Delhi conducts two cloud-seeding trials in 15 days; more planned after Diwali and Chhath

The Delhi government has conducted two rounds of cloudseeding trials near the Indira Gandhi International Airport over the past 15 days as it explores artificial rain as a possible measure to address rising air pollution in the national capital government sources told PTIThe trials were reportedly conducted at an altitude of approximately 30000 metres considerably higher than the around 10000metre altitude at which cloudseeding operations were carried out in Delhi last yearMore cloudseeding trials likely after festivalsMore trials are likely to be conducted after Diwali and Chhath the sources told PTIThe government is unlikely to issue an official announcement or confirmation regarding the proposed operations until after Diwali they addedThe trials form part of efforts to examine whether cloud seeding could help address pollution during periods of poor air quality in the national capitalCloud seeding aims to enhance rainfallCloud seeding is a weathermodification technique intended to increase a cloudrsquos ability to produce precipitationThe process involves dispersing substances such as silver iodide and sodium chloride into suitable clouds to encourage the formation of raindrops or ice crystalsThe technique requires appropriate cloud conditions to work and does not guarantee rainfall Its effectiveness depends on atmospheric conditions and the characteristics of the clouds being targetedDelhi began cloudseeding project with IIT KanpurThe Delhi government first launched its cloudseeding project last year in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology IIT KanpurThe initiative was introduced as an emergency measure to explore possible ways of tackling air pollution during peak winter episodesThe collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Delhi Environment Department and IIT Kanpur on September 25 2025Two trials conducted in October last yearTwo rounds of cloudseeding trials were conducted in Delhi in October 2025During each operation eight chemical flares containing silver iodide and sodium chloride were released according to the supplied reportHowever the experiments did not result in rainfallThe absence of precipitation meant that the trials did not produce the intended artificial rain although the government later claimed that the operations had helped reduce particulate matter levels at the targeted locationsGovernment report claims reduction in particulate matterThe Delhi government subsequently released a report stating that the previous yearrsquos trials had helped lower particulate matter levels at the locations targeted during the operationsWith inputs from PTI