The Delhi government on Wednesday cancelled the city’s second artificial rain trial, a day after a ₹1.28 crore cloud-seeding experiment failed to produce rainfall.
The project, conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, was halted due to insufficient moisture levels in the atmosphere, officials confirmed.
A Cessna aircraft was deployed for the trial on Tuesday, flying over select parts of Delhi to disperse cloud condensation agents. However, the experiment did not yield any measurable rainfall, prompting authorities to postpone the follow-up attempt scheduled for Wednesday, October 29.
IIT Kanpur Cites Unfavourable Conditions
In an official statement, IIT Kanpur clarified that the cloud-seeding process is highly dependent on suitable weather conditions, particularly adequate humidity and cloud density.
“While rainfall could not be triggered yesterday because moisture levels were around 15–20%, the trial delivered valuable insights,” the institute said.
Researchers noted that the data collected during the test will help refine future operations and improve the accuracy of weather modelling in urban conditions like Delhi’s.
₹1.28 Crore Project Aimed at Pollution Control
The cloud-seeding initiative, costing approximately ₹1.28 crore, was part of the Delhi government’s air pollution mitigation strategy ahead of the winter smog season. The project’s objective was to induce artificial rainfall to help reduce airborne particulate matter and improve air quality across the National Capital Region (NCR).
Officials said that despite the initial setback, the experiment will be rescheduled once atmospheric conditions become favourable.
Next Steps and Broader Context
Delhi’s air quality has been deteriorating steadily, with PM2.5 and PM10 levels hovering above safe limits in several monitoring stations. Authorities have been exploring geoengineering and scientific interventions—such as cloud seeding and anti-smog guns—to combat pollution in the short term.
Environmental experts have supported such scientific trials but stressed that artificial rain cannot replace long-term measures, including emission control, green mobility, and industrial regulation.
