India, April 17 -- The Capital on Thursday recorded its hottest day for the season, again, as temperatures soared, crossing the 40degC-mark at the city's base station for weather. Simultaneously, the air quality also deteriorated into the 'poor' category, prompting the reimposition of Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) restrictions, a month after they were fully lifted.

According to official forecast, the mercury is expected to rise further and may even soar to 42degC on Friday. On Monday, the base station of Safdarjung recorded a maximum of 40.3degC, which is 3.5 degrees above normal for the year. However, the highest maximum across the city was 41.4degC at the Ridge station in north Delhi.

This follows the trend with temperatures risi...