India, Oct. 22 -- The booms, crackles and whistles of firecrackers rang in Gurugram and its skyline was illuminated on Monday night as the Supreme Court's restrictions were violated across the city.

On Diwali night, residents said, it felt like there were no rules. By 2am, thick smog blanketed the city, locals said, with the AQI plunging into the "very poor" category.

Seemingly indifferent to the rules and environmental concerns, from upscale condominiums to middle-class colonies, across neighbourhoods like Sohna Road, Dwarka Expressway, Sushant Lok, South City 1 and 2, Southern Peripheral Road, Sector 56, and Palam Vihar, people continued to burst crackers well past the Supreme Court deadline of 10 pm.

"There were barricades, police p...