India tests cloud seeding to fight Delhi’s smog
India Conducts Cloud-Seeding Experiment to Clear Delhi’s Toxic Smog
In an effort to tackle one of the world’s worst air pollution crises, Indian authorities on Tuesday carried out a cloud-seeding experiment over smog-laden New Delhi, hoping to induce artificial rainfall and wash away the city’s suffocating haze. The move comes amid growing public anger over the capital’s toxic air, which has left millions struggling with health issues and forced schools to shut in recent weeks.
A small aircraft flew over parts of the city, releasing a mix of chemicals into the atmosphere to encourage rain. Officials said the goal was to bring down pollution levels, which remained firmly in the “very poor” category despite repeated curbs on construction, traffic, and industrial emissions.
Cloud seeding — a weather modification technique that disperses substances such as silver iodide or sodium chloride into clouds — has been used in several countries to trigger rainfall, particularly in drought-hit regions. Nations like the United States, China, and the United Arab Emirates have experimented with it for decades, though scientists remain divided over how effective it truly is. Results largely depend on cloud density and local weather conditions.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that the trial was carried out in partnership with experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, which has been studying the process for years. “This is a scientific effort to provide some immediate relief to residents,” Sirsa said. “If the weather supports it, we are expecting light rainfall in some areas within hours.” He added that more trials were planned in the coming days, depending on atmospheric conditions.
New Delhi and its surrounding region — home to over 30 million people — consistently rank among the most polluted places on Earth. India, according to a report by Switzerland-based air quality monitor IQAir, is home to six of the world’s ten most polluted cities, with Delhi topping the list as the most polluted capital globally.
While experts say cloud seeding may only offer temporary respite, many Delhi residents are clinging to the hope that even a few drops of rain could bring much-needed relief from the city’s choking smog.