Delhi is preparing for a historic moment, its first-ever artificial rain through cloud seeding. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Thursday that all preparations for the ambitious pollution-control experiment have been completed, marking a major technological milestone in the capital’s ongoing battle against toxic air.
Delhi’s First Artificial Rain: When and Where Will It Happen?
According to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the first artificial rain is likely to occur on 29 October, depending on weather conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted cloudy skies over Delhi on 28, 29, and 30 October, creating ideal conditions for the operation.
Gupta shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), writing that the city is “ready to induce artificial rain through cloud seeding for the first time in its history.” She also added that this experiment represents a scientific and sustainable approach to combat Delhi’s worsening air quality.
A successful trial flight was conducted earlier in the day over the Burari area, confirming that the system and coordination were ready for deployment.
How the Cloud Seeding Trial Was Conducted
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa revealed that a trial seeding flight was carried out from IIT Kanpur to Delhi via Meerut, Khekra, Burari, Sadakpur, Bhojpur, and Aligarh, before returning to Kanpur.
During the trial, cloud-seeding flares were fired between Khekra and Burari, as well as over Badli, using pyrotechnic technology. The mission was designed to test the seeding system’s efficiency, aircraft endurance, and inter-agency coordination.
Sirsa thanked Chief Minister Gupta and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating swift approvals, enabling the project to move forward without delays.
IIT-Kanpur and Delhi Government Join Hands for Pollution Control
The cloud-seeding project is a joint initiative between the Delhi government and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, developed in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.
The project aims to reduce particulate pollution, the main cause of Delhi’s smog, by triggering rainfall that can help settle suspended dust and pollutants.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed last month between IIT-Kanpur and the Delhi government for five experimental cloud-seeding trials, mainly focused in northwest Delhi.
The project was initially scheduled for 4 July 2025, but was postponed due to unfavourable weather.
Approved by 23 Departments, Backed by DGCA
The project has received approvals from 23 departments, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which authorised the operations under Rule 26(2) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
The seeding flights will be carried out using IIT-Kanpur’s Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT) and will operate under visual flight rules (VFR) between 1 October and 30 November.
Strict safety, security, and air traffic control protocols will be followed during every flight. The DGCA has also specified that the activity will be conducted without remuneration, solely for scientific research and environmental benefit.
Why Cloud Seeding Could Be a Game-Changer for Delhi
If successful, cloud seeding could emerge as a path-breaking method to control Delhi’s air pollution, especially during the post-Diwali smog season. By inducing rain, the process can wash away fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) that often pushes Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) into the “severe” category during winter.
Environmental experts see this as a scientific innovation rooted in climate engineering, and a potential model for other polluted cities across India.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasised that this initiative “marks a new era of scientific solutions to environmental challenges,” adding that the government is committed to using every available technology to clean Delhi’s air and restore environmental balance.
What Happens Next?
Once the weather conditions turn favourable, the IIT-Kanpur team will carry out the first operational cloud-seeding flight over Delhi, possibly on 29 October. If successful, the project could pave the way for regular artificial rain initiatives during periods of high pollution in the national capital.
Delhi’s residents, often trapped in layers of smog during winter, now look to the skies with renewed hope, hoping that this time, the rain won’t just be natural, but engineered for cleaner air and healthier living.
Inputs from PTI
Delhi’s First Artificial Rain: When and Where Will It Happen?
According to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the first artificial rain is likely to occur on 29 October, depending on weather conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted cloudy skies over Delhi on 28, 29, and 30 October, creating ideal conditions for the operation.
Gupta shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), writing that the city is “ready to induce artificial rain through cloud seeding for the first time in its history.” She also added that this experiment represents a scientific and sustainable approach to combat Delhi’s worsening air quality.
A successful trial flight was conducted earlier in the day over the Burari area, confirming that the system and coordination were ready for deployment.
How the Cloud Seeding Trial Was Conducted
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa revealed that a trial seeding flight was carried out from IIT Kanpur to Delhi via Meerut, Khekra, Burari, Sadakpur, Bhojpur, and Aligarh, before returning to Kanpur.
During the trial, cloud-seeding flares were fired between Khekra and Burari, as well as over Badli, using pyrotechnic technology. The mission was designed to test the seeding system’s efficiency, aircraft endurance, and inter-agency coordination.
Sirsa thanked Chief Minister Gupta and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating swift approvals, enabling the project to move forward without delays.
IIT-Kanpur and Delhi Government Join Hands for Pollution Control
The cloud-seeding project is a joint initiative between the Delhi government and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, developed in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.
The project aims to reduce particulate pollution, the main cause of Delhi’s smog, by triggering rainfall that can help settle suspended dust and pollutants.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed last month between IIT-Kanpur and the Delhi government for five experimental cloud-seeding trials, mainly focused in northwest Delhi.
The project was initially scheduled for 4 July 2025, but was postponed due to unfavourable weather.
Approved by 23 Departments, Backed by DGCA
The project has received approvals from 23 departments, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which authorised the operations under Rule 26(2) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
The seeding flights will be carried out using IIT-Kanpur’s Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT) and will operate under visual flight rules (VFR) between 1 October and 30 November.
Strict safety, security, and air traffic control protocols will be followed during every flight. The DGCA has also specified that the activity will be conducted without remuneration, solely for scientific research and environmental benefit.
Why Cloud Seeding Could Be a Game-Changer for Delhi
If successful, cloud seeding could emerge as a path-breaking method to control Delhi’s air pollution, especially during the post-Diwali smog season. By inducing rain, the process can wash away fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) that often pushes Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) into the “severe” category during winter.
Environmental experts see this as a scientific innovation rooted in climate engineering, and a potential model for other polluted cities across India.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasised that this initiative “marks a new era of scientific solutions to environmental challenges,” adding that the government is committed to using every available technology to clean Delhi’s air and restore environmental balance.
What Happens Next?
Once the weather conditions turn favourable, the IIT-Kanpur team will carry out the first operational cloud-seeding flight over Delhi, possibly on 29 October. If successful, the project could pave the way for regular artificial rain initiatives during periods of high pollution in the national capital.
Delhi’s residents, often trapped in layers of smog during winter, now look to the skies with renewed hope, hoping that this time, the rain won’t just be natural, but engineered for cleaner air and healthier living.
Inputs from PTI
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