Key Takeaways
- Delhi’s first cloud seeding attempt in 53 years showed limited success due to low cloud moisture
- PM 2.5 levels dropped slightly in targeted areas despite no rainfall recorded in Delhi
- Officials call it an “emergency measure” while environmentalists remain skeptical
- More trials planned through February if weather conditions permit
Delhi’s ambitious cloud seeding experiment to combat air pollution yielded limited results on Tuesday, with officials citing low moisture levels in clouds as the primary challenge. The city’s first artificial rain attempt in 53 years failed to produce rainfall in most areas, though it did provide valuable data for future operations.
Limited Success Despite Efforts
IIT Kanpur Director Prof Manindra Agarwal described the trial as “not completely successful” but emphasized its importance for research. “Unfortunately, the clouds today had very low moisture content — around 15 to 20 per cent — which makes it difficult to trigger rainfall,” he told media channels.
The technical team used a Cessna aircraft to fire 14 flares containing a mixture of silver iodide, rock salt, and common salt over several Delhi neighborhoods including Burari, Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar and Badli.
Pollution Impact and Official Response
While the India Meteorological Department recorded no rainfall in Delhi, light precipitation occurred in Noida (0.1 mm) and Greater Noida (0.2 mm). More significantly, pollution monitoring showed:
- PM 2.5 levels dropped from 221-230 to 206-207
- PM 10 concentrations fell from 207-209 to 163-177 in targeted areas
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa characterized the operation as an “emergency scientific measure” for temporary relief from toxic air. Two additional flights are scheduled for Wednesday, with potential continuation through February.
Expert Perspectives and Concerns
Professor Agarwal stressed that cloud seeding represents an “SOS solution” rather than a permanent fix. “The real solution lies in controlling pollution at its source,” he noted, suggesting operational costs could be reduced by launching flights from within Delhi.
Environmentalists expressed skepticism about the approach. Climate activist Vimlendu Jha called it a “temporary, end-of-the-pipe solution” that fails to address root causes while raising concerns about chemical impacts from silver iodide.
This marks Delhi’s third major cloud seeding attempt, following previous experiments in 1957 and the early 1970s. As the city’s air quality index improved slightly to 294 (‘poor’ category) from 301 (‘very poor’), officials remain hopeful about continuing experiments under suitable weather conditions.
