With Delhi witnessing a sharp deterioration in air quality ahead of Diwali, the Delhi government has conducted two artificial rain trials in the past two weeks and is now exploring the possibility of carrying out cloud seeding on two to three dates in the coming days, including Chhath, sources in the government have indicated.
According to sources, both trials were conducted in the vicinity of Delhi airport as the government explores artificial rain as a possible intervention to tackle the seasonal pollution crisis. With pollution levels typically expected to rise further after Diwali, authorities are considering additional cloud-seeding exercises to induce rainfall and bring temporary relief to residents.
The government, however, is unlikely to make any official announcement or confirmation regarding the proposed plan until after Diwali, sources said.
One of the key details emerging from the latest trials is the altitude at which the exercises were conducted. Sources said the trials and cloud-seeding operations were carried out at an altitude of approximately 30,000 metres. This marks a significant difference from last year, when cloud seeding was conducted at an altitude of around 10,000 metres.
The proposed exercises come against the backdrop of worsening air quality across the national capital. Delhi’s AQI has approached the 400 mark, with a thick layer of haze engulfing several parts of the city ahead of Diwali. Several monitoring stations have recorded readings in the severe category, raising concerns about the possibility of pollution levels deteriorating further in the aftermath of the festival.
Diwali typically brings an additional pollution burden due to firecracker emissions, which combine with existing sources such as vehicular pollution, construction dust, industrial emissions and stubble burning in neighbouring states. Weather conditions, particularly low wind speeds and the absence of adequate atmospheric dispersion, can further aggravate the situation.
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique in which substances such as silver iodide or salts are introduced into moisture-bearing clouds to encourage condensation or ice-crystal formation, potentially triggering precipitation. Rainfall can help wash pollutants, particularly suspended particulate matter, out of the atmosphere and temporarily improve air quality.
The Delhi government has been exploring artificial rain as an emergency intervention in collaboration with IIT Kanpur. However, the success of cloud seeding depends on the availability of suitable moisture-bearing clouds and favourable atmospheric conditions.
If the proposed exercises go ahead, the government could look at multiple dates around the post-Diwali pollution spike, with Chhath also emerging as one of the possible occasions for cloud seeding.
While artificial rain could offer temporary respite, it is not a long-term solution to Delhi’s recurring air pollution problem.
