Delhi May Get Its First Artificial Rain Today: What, When, and How Explained Simply

The national capital could experience its first man-made rain today, depending on the weather. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the long-awaited cloud seeding test might happen today if the conditions in Kanpur improve. The aircraft needed for the task is currently based there.

When Will It Happen?

Sirsa explained that the aircraft will take off only after visibility in Kanpur gets better. “Right now, visibility is around 2,000 metres. We need it to reach 5,000 metres for the plane to fly safely,” he said. If that happens by around 12:30 or 1 pm, the aircraft will leave Kanpur, carry out cloud seeding over Delhi, and return.

What Is Cloud Seeding?

Cloud seeding is a process used to make it rain. In this method, substances such as silver iodide, dry ice, or salt are sprayed into clouds to help water droplets form. When these droplets become heavy, they fall as rain.

For Delhi’s experiment, experts from IIT Kanpur made a mix of silver iodide nanoparticles and iodised salt. This is sprayed from an aircraft into clouds that already have some moisture. The goal is to create rainfall.

Why Is Delhi Doing This?

The main reason is to clean the air. Every winter, the air quality in Delhi becomes very poor and harmful. This morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was 306, which is marked as ‘very poor’. In some places like Siri Fort and Burari, it went above 350.

Studies say that pollution in Delhi is so serious that it can cut life expectancy by almost 12 years compared to what the World Health Organisation suggests. The hope is that even a short spell of rain might help wash away dust and pollutants from the air.

What’s the Plan Ahead?

The Delhi government signed an agreement with IIT Kanpur on September 25 to run five cloud seeding tests in northwest Delhi. The plan got delayed many times due to bad weather and timing issues with the monsoon.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has already given permission for these trials between October 1 and November 30.

If everything goes right and the clouds support the process, Delhi could see its first artificial rain by this afternoon — a small but hopeful step toward cleaner air.