Delhi Set for First-Ever Artificial Rain as IIT-Kanpur Conducts Cloud Seeding Experiment to Tackle Pollution

October 28, 2025

Kanpur/New Delhi: In a landmark scientific initiative to combat the Capital’s worsening air pollution, a plane carrying IIT-Kanpur scientists took off on Tuesday afternoon to conduct cloud seeding experiments over Delhi’s Burari area, aiming to induce artificial rain.

Improved Visibility Enables Flight Take-Off

According to officials from IIT-Kanpur, the specially equipped aircraft took off from Kanpur at 12:20 p.m., carrying two researchers onboard. “It will take about two-and-a-half hours to reach Delhi,” an official from the IIT Kanpur Media Cell confirmed.

The flight had been delayed earlier in the morning due to poor visibility, which remained around 2,000 metres.

Delhi Forest and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told IANS that the plane could only take off once visibility improved to 5,000 metres, meeting the required safety parameters for cloud seeding operations.

Scientific Approach to Pollution Control

The operation marks Delhi’s first-ever attempt to induce artificial rainfall to clear toxic smog and pollutants.

Dr. Manish Agarwal, Director of IIT-Kanpur, explained that previous attempts had been stalled due to lack of permissions from relevant authorities.

“This time, both the Delhi government and the Union Ministry of Environment have granted approval, significantly increasing the likelihood of success,” he said.

The technique involves chemical sprays on cloud formations, potentially inducing rainfall within a 100-kilometre radius.

This artificial rain is expected to help settle dust, smoke, and particulate matter, providing much-needed relief from Delhi’s hazardous air quality.

Government and Experts Optimistic

Delhi Chief Minister CM Gupta said the initiative represents a “historic step” in the city’s efforts to address pollution through scientific intervention.

“Preparations have been completed for the first time in Delhi to induce artificial rain through cloud seeding.

Experts have successfully conducted preliminary tests in the Burari area,” she wrote on her X handle.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast favourable cloud conditions between October 28 and 30, increasing the chances of a successful outcome.

“If weather conditions remain supportive, Delhi will experience its first artificial rain on October 29,” the Chief Minister said, describing the experiment as a milestone in India’s environmental management efforts.

Background

Cloud seeding, a process that involves dispersing substances like silver iodide, potassium chloride, or sodium chloride into the atmosphere to encourage cloud condensation and rainfall, has been successfully tested in countries like the United States, China, and the UAE.

With pollution levels in Delhi already reaching “severe” categories in several areas this week, officials hope this experiment will pave the way for scientific air-quality interventions in other Indian cities.