New Delhi— The Delhi government on Tuesday completed its second cloud seeding trial in a bid to induce artificial rainfall and curb rising air pollution levels in the national capital. Officials confirmed that a special aircraft from Kanpur conducted the operation over Burari, Khekra, Mayur Vihar, North Karol Bagh, Sadakpur, and Bhojpur, before landing in Meerut.
According to officials, the designated areas will now be closely monitored for signs of artificial rain over the next few hours. A second trial may also be conducted later today depending on atmospheric conditions.
Experts from IIT Kanpur, who are collaborating with the Delhi government on the project, stated that rain could occur anytime between the next 15 minutes and four hours if moisture levels remain adequate.
Confirming the successful completion of the trial, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that if today’s attempt yields positive results, the government will formulate a long-term cloud seeding plan extending till February 2026.
“We will conduct artificial rain daily or on alternate days, depending on weather conditions,” Sirsa said.
The Delhi government plans to conduct five cloud seeding trials in total, all focused on northwest Delhi, where pollution levels are often among the highest.
Last week’s initial trial over Burari failed to produce rainfall due to low atmospheric moisture, recorded at below 20 percent — well short of the 50 percent minimum required for successful cloud seeding.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had announced the project earlier this month, following forecasts of cloudy weather from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The trials, scheduled for October 28 and 29, aim to test the feasibility of artificial rainfall as a short-term pollution mitigation measure.
What Is Cloud Seeding?
Cloud seeding is a scientific process used to artificially induce rainfall by dispersing fine particles — such as silver iodide crystals or salt-based compounds — into moisture-bearing clouds. These particles act as condensation nuclei, encouraging the formation of larger water droplets that can fall as rain.
In Delhi’s case, a specially equipped aircraft from IIT Kanpur dispersed the seeding materials into the atmosphere during the flight over the designated sectors.
Officials said further trials and meteorological analysis would determine whether large-scale artificial rain operations could become a viable part of Delhi’s air quality management strategy during the winter pollution season.
