First cloud seeding trial held; full run on Oct 29

Delhi on Thursday held its first “successful” test of its ambitious cloud-seeding project after a plane released flares laced with rain-inducing chemicals above the city, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta said, adding thatthe government will now carry out the exercise for the first time in the city on October 29.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

The trial, however, did not yield rain because of low humidity on Thursday, scientists said.

Gupta announced that the government would attempt full-fledged artificial rain on October 29, calling the exercise “historic” and a major step in Delhi's fight against pollution. “If conditions remain favourable, Delhi will experience its first artificial rain on October 29,” Gupta wrote on X, citing the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast of suitable cloud formations later this month.

A specially equipped aircraft, operated by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, flew from Kanpur via Meerut, Khekra, Burari, Sadakpur, and Bhojpur, looping back after releasing flares laced with silver iodide and sodium chloride compounds over Delhi's northern fringe.