Delhi to Conduct Artificial Rain Experiment on October 29, Says CM Rekha Gupta

Amid worsening air pollution following Diwali, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the city will carry out its first artificial rain experiment through cloud seeding on October 29, provided weather conditions remain favourable. Gupta described the initiative as a “necessity” for Delhi, citing the capital’s deteriorating air quality and the urgent need for innovative pollution-control measures.

The plan, developed in collaboration with experts from IIT Kanpur, follows a successful trial in Burari earlier this month. Meteorological forecasts predict adequate cloud cover over Delhi between October 28 and 30, offering an opportunity to test the technique, which involves dispersing silver iodide particles into clouds to induce rainfall. Gupta said the government is “exploring all scientific options to clean Delhi’s air and restore environmental balance.”

Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) has remained in the “very poor” to “severe” category since the Diwali weekend, with high concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particles caused by firecracker emissions, vehicle pollution, and stagnant weather conditions. The artificial rain initiative is part of the city’s broader response under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which also includes curbs on construction activity and vehicle checks.

Experts have welcomed the experiment as a positive step but cautioned that cloud seeding offers only temporary relief and depends heavily on suitable atmospheric conditions. “It’s not a substitute for long-term emission control,” said environmental scientists associated with the project.

The Delhi government views the experiment as a pilot to assess feasibility for future large-scale operations during pollution peaks. Gupta expressed optimism that, if successful, the initiative could be replicated in other northern cities suffering from winter smog. “This is about testing innovation for the public good,” she said.