Delhi artificial rain: Plane set to carry out cloud seeding trial takes off from Kanpur - Here's how it will be done

A plane designated for cloud seeding took off from Kanpur, marking the first step in the government’s plan to induce artificial rainfall and curb rising pollution levels in the capital. (Image credit: @IndianTechGuide/X)

The aircraft to be used for the first cloud-seeding trial in the national capital took off from Kanpur for Delhi, and is expected to conduct the exercise in northwest Delhi’s Burari, an official said on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.

According to the official, if weather conditions remain favourable, such as moisture levels and cloud availability, the trial will take place on Tuesday. The flight will directly conduct the trial in the northwest region near Burari, after which it will be stationed at the Meerut airport.

The official also said that if weather conditions are not favourable for seeding, the flight will directly head to Meerut, where it will remain stationed until the weather becomes suitable for the exercise.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the specially equipped aircraft will arrive from Kanpur once visibility there improves from 2,000 metres to at least 5,000 metres.

“The flight will arrive in Delhi once the visibility improves (in Kanpur). The cloud seeding trial will be conducted today,” he told PTI Videos.

What to expect from trial

The cloud seeding operation, conducted in partnership with IIT Kanpur, is designed to induce artificial rainfall using silver iodide and sodium chloride, compounds that help water droplets form and fall as rain. The trial will be carried out in northwest Delhi once suitable cloud conditions appear.

Officials said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated possible cloud formations between October 28 and October 30. If conditions remain favourable, Delhi could witness its first artificial showers by the evening.

Why its important

The experiment is part of Delhi’s broader strategy to reduce toxic air levels that typically spike during the winter months. Artificial rain could temporarily help wash away pollutants and improve visibility across the capital, which is currently suffering from poor air quality.

Preparations for the exercise have been underway for weeks. A test flight conducted over Burari last week released small quantities of seeding agents, but low moisture levels, below the required 50 per cent threshold, prevented rainfall.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation earlier granted permission to IIT Kanpur to conduct the trials any time between October 1 and November 30.

Clearances have also been secured from more than 10 central and state departments, including the Union ministries of environment, defence and home, the Uttar Pradesh government, the Airports Authority of India, and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, among others.

The Delhi Cabinet on May 7 approved a proposal to conduct five cloud seeding trials at a total cost of Rs 3.21 crore.

However, the exercise faced multiple postponements due to unfavourable weather and monsoon conditions, including deadlines set for May-end, early June, August, September and, most recently, the second week of October.