“If the weather remains favourable, Delhi is likely to witness its first artificial rain on October 29,” announced Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday, marking a potential turning point in the city’s fight against toxic air. The Delhi government has confirmed that all arrangements for the city’s first-ever artificial rain through cloud seeding are now in place. Developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, this ambitious project is a major scientific and technological intervention meant to purify the dirty skies of the city.
What Exactly is This Initiative?
This project uses a method called cloud seeding to increase rainfall. It works by releasing substances like silver iodide into clouds, which helps water droplets join together and fall as rain. For a city like Delhi, which grapples with severe air quality every winter, the goal is straightforward: use this artificial rain to wash away hazardous particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) from the atmosphere, providing temporary but much-needed relief. The government has framed this not just as a one-off event, but as the establishment of a “scientific approach to combatting pollution.”
Who is Conducting the Cloud Seeding?
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and the Delhi government are leading the entire operation together. The cloud-seeding technology, specialized aircraft, and scientific expertise are being provided by IIT Kanpur. A trial run was successfully conducted recently, with a flight taking off from IIT Kanpur and flying over areas like Meerut, Khekra, and Burari. During this mission, “cloud seeding flares were fired between Khekra and Burari and over the Badli area,” explained Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. The project has received crucial approvals from 23 different agencies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), ensuring all air safety norms are met.
When Will Delhi See This Artificial Rain?
The project has a specific operational window authorized between October 1 and November 30. The government is now closely monitoring the weather, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting favourable cloudy conditions on October 28, 29, and 30. This has set the stage for a potential launch on October 29. The operations will use a Cessna 206-H aircraft and will be conducted in coordination with experts from the IMD and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune to maximize the chances of success.
दिल्ली में पहली बार क्लाउड सीडिंग के माध्यम से कृत्रिम वर्षा कराने की तैयारियां पूरी कर ली गई हैं। आज विशेषज्ञों द्वारा बुराड़ी क्षेत्र में इसका सफल परीक्षण किया गया है।
मौसम विभाग ने 28, 29 और 30 अक्टूबर को बादलों की उपस्थिति की संभावना जताई है। यदि परिस्थितियां अनुकूल रहीं, तो…
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) October 23, 2025
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Is This a One-Time Event or a Long-Term Plan?
This is part of a larger, approved plan. In September, the Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding with IIT Kanpur for a total of five cloud-seeding trials. The project is set up as a series of trials to fully evaluate the feasibility of artificial rainfall as a recurring solution to Delhi’s winter pollution crisis, even if the immediate focus is on the approaching weather window. Whether cloud seeding is incorporated into the city’s environmental toolset permanently will probably depend on how well these early attempts go.
