On Thursday, Delhi experienced its hottest day of the season, with temperatures reaching 40.3°C at the Safdarjung weather station and a peak of 41.4°C at the Ridge station in north Delhi. This heatwave coincided with a significant decline in air quality, which fell into the 'poor' category for the second consecutive day, with the air quality index (AQI) increasing from 204 to 226. In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has reactivated the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) Stage-1 measures, which include preventive actions such as enhanced water sprinkling on roads and increased public transport frequency. The CAQM aims to mitigate further deterioration of air quality following the lifting of all Grap restrictions on March 16, when air quality had improved to a 'moderate' level. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that temperatures may rise to 42°C on Friday and remain in the 40-42°C range over the weekend, despite a western disturbance affecting the western Himalayan region.