Every Diwali, Delhi becomes a paradox – it turns into a celebration and a sentence. The city's skies explode with firecrackers, pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) into the "severe" zone . Hospitals brace for surging respiratory cases. Asthma attacks, bronchitis and heart complications are triggered as toxic metals from firecracker emissions settle into the lungs.

But, despite blanket bans and health warnings, Delhi residents persist, shrouding the capital in smog. On Tuesday, after a night of revelry, many areas saw AQI levels breach 400, despite court-mandated restrictions. The air quality had already dipped to 'very poor' in the lead up to Diwali, with a thin layer of haze surrounding the capital.

The health stakes are stark. Firecrackers release fine particulate matter and toxic

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