Delhi witnessed its first cloud-seeding trial on Tuesday, October 28, with operations carried out in several parts of the city, including Burari, North Karol Bagh, Bhojpur, Mayur Vihar, and Sadakpur.
The aircraft involved in the exercise took off from Kanpur and conducted the trial in the afternoon as part of the government’s effort to explore artificial rain as a solution to the city’s rising air pollution levels.
Officials said humidity levels of 15 to 20 per cent were recorded in clouds over Delhi during the operation, and there was a possibility of rainfall between 5 and 6 pm.
The trial is part of a broader initiative by the Delhi government to tackle poor air quality, which worsens sharply every winter due to vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and crop residue burning in neighbouring states.
A preparatory test flight had been carried out last week over Burari, during which small amounts of silver iodide and sodium chloride were released to study the reaction of the clouds.
#WATCH | Delhi | "The second trial of cloud seeding was conducted in Delhi by IIT Kanpur through Cessna Aircraft. The aircraft entered Delhi from the direction of Meerut. Khekra, Burari, North Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar were covered under this. 8 flares were used in cloud seeding.… pic.twitter.com/xMby0wBLJh
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2025
The exercise, however, did not result in rainfall because the atmospheric moisture at the time was below 20 per cent, while around 50 per cent humidity is usually required for successful cloud seeding.
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta had earlier described the project as a vital step in addressing the city’s environmental crisis. Speaking to ANI, she said, “Cloud seeding is a necessity for Delhi and is the first experiment of its kind. We want to try it in Delhi to see if it can help us control this very serious environmental problem.”
She added, “So the blessings of the people of Delhi are with the government, and we feel that this will be a successful experiment and in the future, we will be able to overcome these environmental problems.”
Cloud seeding is a scientific method of weather modification that uses substances such as silver iodide or salt particles to encourage rainfall. These particles act as a base for water droplets to form, which can then fall as rain under suitable conditions. While the technique has been used in various parts of the world, its effectiveness depends on the presence of adequate moisture in the atmosphere.
Through this first experiment, the Delhi government hopes to assess whether cloud seeding can serve as a practical tool in reducing pollution levels by washing away fine particulate matter from the air and providing temporary relief during high-smog periods.
