Delhi to conduct first artificial rain between October 28 and 30 to tackle air pollution

Delhi to conduct first artificial rain between October 28 and 30 to tackle air pollution

Delhi is set to conduct its first-ever artificial rain through cloud seeding between October 28 and 30 in an effort to curb rising air pollution levels in the national capital.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that all preparations have been completed for the cloud seeding operation, describing it as a major technological milestone in Delhi’s ongoing fight against deteriorating air quality.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that all systems, including aircraft, meteorological setups, and environmental monitoring equipment, are ready for the operation.

The artificial rain initiative aims to improve air quality by settling airborne pollutants and providing temporary relief from smog that typically engulfs Delhi during this time of the year.

Meanwhile, Delhi is expected to receive light rainfall on Monday and Tuesday, just before the government’s planned cloud seeding activity on Wednesday.

The national capital’s air quality stayed in the ‘very poor’ category on Monday. According to Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer ap. Localities such as Bawana (AQI 401) and Anand Vihar (AQI 431) recorded ‘severe’ air quality levels. Out of 38 monitoring stations, 23 reported AQI readings above 300 on Monday morning.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 17.3°C, slightly above the seasonal average, while the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 29°C.