Delhi Conducts First Artificial Rain Trial via Cloud Seeding Amid Severe Air Pollution
Delhi initiated its first artificial rain trial using cloud seeding to combat worsening air pollution, with a Cessna 206H aircraft conducting operations near Burari. The city’s air quality index remained in the ‘very poor’ category, exceeding 300. This move is part of the Delhi government’s broader plan to improve winter air quality, despite political disputes over pollution sources and AQI manipulation allegations.
Delhi is undertaking its inaugural cloud seeding trial aimed at inducing artificial rain to mitigate the deteriorating air quality during the winter months. Following the annual pattern where air pollution worsens after Diwali, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached ‘very poor’ levels, exceeding 300. The trial involved a Cessna 206H aircraft that took off from Kanpur after visibility improved, flying towards Burari, one of Delhi's most polluted regions. Cloud seeding involves dispersing chemicals such as silver iodide nanoparticles and potassium iodide into clouds to accelerate the formation of water droplets, ultimately causing rain. This initiative is part of a coordinated effort by the Delhi government, which has partnered with IIT Kanpur and secured multiple government clearances to conduct five trials between October and November. Political tensions accompany the effort, with BJP, AAP, and Congress exchanging accusations over the air pollution crisis and alleged AQI data manipulation. The successful cloud seeding trial marks a significant step in Delhi’s strategy to combat severe air pollution during winter, demonstrating a technological approach to an enduring environmental problem.
