Delhi to get rain relief: Artificial Rain operation set to begin soon

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The people of Delhi, suffering from pollution, may soon find relief from artificial rain. IIT Kanpur has made full preparations for this. The team of scientists said that as soon as sufficient clouds and moisture form in the sky, artificial rain will be generated through cloud seeding.

The IIT Kanpur team is waiting for clouds to appear in the Delhi skies, which could potentially produce artificial rain. The institute's Cessna aircraft is fully prepared to perform the cloud seeding process. According to the team, this experiment can only be successfully conducted once the humidity and temperature in Delhi are balanced.

Professor Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur and lead researcher of the artificial rain technology, said that the institute successfully tested artificial rain in 2023. Prior to this, more than six years of research were devoted to developing and implementing this technology. Professor Agrawal said, "We have completed all the scientific and technical preparations. We have received permission from the central and Delhi governments; now we are just waiting for favorable weather conditions."

Permission and technical preparations complete

Flight permission for the artificial rain mission has been received from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Delhi government has also approved the project. As soon as sufficient clouds and moisture are recorded in the skies over Delhi-NCR, the IIT Kanpur team will immediately begin operations.

How artificial rain is caused

Cloud seeding involves releasing chemicals—such as silver iodide, sodium chloride, or dry ice—into clouds. These particles attract moisture and condense to form water droplets, triggering rain. This technique is already being used in many countries to reduce pollution and combat drought.