Delhi conducts cloud seeding experiment to combat severe air pollution
Indian authorities carried out a cloud seeding experiment over New Delhi to induce rainfall and reduce toxic air pollution. Despite releasing chemicals to trigger rain, air quality remained very poor. The initiative, involving IIT Kanpur and local government, aims for short-term relief amid worsening winter pollution caused by crop burning and trapped smoke. Experts warn cloud seeding is not a permanent solution.
To address escalating air pollution in New Delhi, India, authorities conducted a cloud seeding operation on October 28, 2025. A plane dispersed chemicals such as salt-based and silver iodide flares into clouds in an attempt to trigger rainfall, which could help wash out airborne pollutants and improve air quality. The experiment was a collaboration between the Delhi government and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. Though brief rainfall was anticipated, local monitoring showed the air quality index remained in the 'very poor' category, reflecting ongoing pollution challenges. New Delhi faces critical pollution each winter due to crop residue burning in neighboring states and cooler conditions that trap smoke emissions from vehicles and industries. Various measures, including construction restrictions, diesel generator limits, and use of sprinklers and anti-smog devices, have been enforced to reduce pollution. Experts such as Krishna Achuta Rao from IIT Delhi emphasize that cloud seeding provides only temporary relief and is not a cure; lasting improvements require strict emission-reduction policies. This experiment marks Delhi’s fourth attempt at such weather modification, highlighting the urgency of tackling one of the world's most polluted urban areas, which ranks highest among capital cities globally in air contamination levels.
