The Delhi government has carried out two cloud-seeding trials near Indira Gandhi International Airport in the past 15 days to test whether artificial rain could cut air pollution, PTI reported citing government sources.
Neither trial produced rainfall, Business Today reported. The sources said the recent sorties were flown much higher than last year's, and that further attempts are likely after Diwali and Chhath. The government is not expected to announce or confirm them before Diwali.
Why last year's attempt failed
The Delhi Environment Department signed an agreement with IIT Kanpur on September 25, 2025. Two rounds of trials followed that October, each releasing eight flares of silver iodide and sodium chloride, Mint reported.
Neither produced rain. A later government report blamed partly the low moisture in the air, estimated at 10-15%, too little for cloud seeding to work. The government said particulate levels fell in some targeted areas, but the main aim of inducing rain was not met. The two sorties cost more than ₹1 crore.
Cloud seeding cannot create clouds or moisture. It only helps existing clouds release rain when conditions are right.
Why it matters
The trials come as the city's air worsens before the festival. Delhi's average AQI was 369 at 4 p.m. on Thursday, in the 'very poor' range for a fourth straight day, according to Central Pollution Control Board data cited by Mint. It was 324 on Monday, 350 on Tuesday and 377 on Wednesday.
Of 59 monitoring stations, 18 recorded 'severe' air, with Jahangirpuri the worst at 454.
The Air Quality Early Warning System expects the air to turn 'severe' between Friday and Sunday. The Ministry of Earth Sciences' decision support system estimated stubble burning's share of Delhi's pollution at about 16% on Thursday and 19% on Friday, falling sharply on Saturday as the share from vehicles rises.