{"id":9223,"date":"2025-11-07T10:12:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T10:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/?p=9223"},"modified":"2025-11-07T11:11:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T11:11:53","slug":"delhi-cloud-seeding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/delhi-cloud-seeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Delhi\u2019s Cloud Seeding Trials, October 2025: A Promising yet Challenged Approach to Combat Air Pollution&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Abstract<\/strong><br>In October 2025, Delhi conducted its first cloud seeding trials to induce artificial rain and mitigate severe post-Diwali air pollution (AQI ~300\u2013400). Collaborating with IIT Kanpur, the government deployed a Cessna 206H aircraft to disperse silver iodide and sodium chloride into clouds. Despite two trials on October 28, no measurable rainfall occurred due to low atmospheric moisture (10\u201320%). This study examines the experiment\u2019s outcomes, challenges, and implications for Delhi\u2019s pollution crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Background: Delhi\u2019s geography and winter inversions trap pollutants, worsening air quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Objective: Assess cloud seeding\u2019s efficacy as an emergency measure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Timeline: Trials conducted on Oct 28, 2025, targeting Burari, Karol Bagh, and Mayur Vihar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Technique: Glaciogenic (silver iodide) and hygroscopic (sodium chloride) seeding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conditions: Clouds at 500\u20136,000 meters; required moisture: 50\u201360% (actual: 10\u201320%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Equipment: Modified Cessna aircraft; 16 flares (8 per trial).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rainfall: 0.1 mm (Noida), 0.2 mm (Greater Noida); none in Delhi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AQI Impact: PM2.5 dropped 221\u2192207 (Mayur Vihar), 230\u2192206 (Karol Bagh).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: \u20b93.21 crore for 5 trials (\u20b91 lakh\/sq. km).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Meteorological: Dry winter air; unsuitable clouds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Technical: Attribution uncertainty; short-term relief.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmental: Chemical risks to soil\/water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Criticism: \u201cGimmick\u201d; neglects root causes (stubble burning, vehicles).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Expert Insights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dr. Akshay Deoras (Univ. of Reading): \u201cSeeding works only during western disturbances.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>IIT Kanpur: \u201cSOS measure, not a permanent solution.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmentalists: Address pollution sources, not symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Government Response<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Plan: 9\u201310 more trials; targeting north Delhi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Policies: BS-VI vehicle ban (Nov 1), anti-smog guns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limitations: Regional coordination lacking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cloud seeding showed marginal short-term benefits but failed to induce rain. Success requires optimal moisture, sustained efforts, and systemic reforms. Delhi must prioritize reducing emissions, not just symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/businessindustries.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/image-11-2025-11-07T152923.967-1024x485.webp\" alt=\"Delhi Cloud\" class=\"wp-image-9152\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u2705 TL;DR<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Delhi\u2019s cloud seeding trials (Oct 2025) faced moisture deficits, offering temporary AQI relief but no rain. Experts urge holistic solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Outlook India (October 28, 2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Hindu (October 29, 2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India TV News (October 28, 2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rediff News (October 29, 2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Firstpost (October 29, 2025)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Writer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Swarnlata Panchal<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Associate Professor, Department of Medical Biotechnology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Director \u2013 International Affairs, NIMS University Jaipur, India<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Honorary Scientist \u2013 Community Medicine, AIIMS India<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Director \u2013 Nicole Ed Pvt. Ltd. (Medical Education)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PhD (Medical Biotechnology) | MBA (International Business)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd17 <strong>Nicole Ed Pvt. Ltd.<\/strong> | <em>Healthcare Researcher &amp; Education Leader<\/em><br>\ud83d\udccd <em>Based on ongoing developments and discussions during the October 2025 Healthcare Summit, Delhi.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AbstractIn October 2025, Delhi conducted its first cloud seeding trials to induce artificial rain and mitigate severe post-Diwali<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9224,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[17267,17245,17286,17264,17241,17271,17277,17257,17289,17272,17279,17254,17291,17295,17261,17256,17253,17251,17240,17266,17242,17284,17249,17296,17239,17247,17268,17290,17283,17252,17259,17270,17274,17255,17258,17278,17282,17273,17280,17275,17260,17243,17297,17250,17262,17281,17265,17294,17285,17263,17287,17276,17292,17246,17298,17244,17248,17288,17299,17269,17293],"class_list":["post-9223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","tag-air-pollution-awareness-india","tag-air-pollution-control-delhi","tag-air-pollution-control-technologies","tag-anti-smog-guns-delhi","tag-artificial-rain-delhi","tag-artificial-rain-effectiveness","tag-artificial-rain-failures-india","tag-artificial-rain-project","tag-artificial-rain-technology","tag-atmospheric-moisture-delhi","tag-bs-vi-vehicle-ban","tag-cessna-aircraft-cloud-seeding","tag-clean-air-initiatives-delhi","tag-climate-intervention-experiments","tag-climate-technology-delhi","tag-cloud-seeding-cost","tag-cloud-seeding-effectiveness","tag-cloud-seeding-results","tag-cloud-seeding-trials-2025","tag-community-health-delhi","tag-delhi-air-pollution","tag-delhi-air-quality-index","tag-delhi-aqi-2025","tag-delhi-climate-change-efforts","tag-delhi-cloud-seeding","tag-delhi-environment-research","tag-delhi-environmental-reforms","tag-delhi-government-environment-plan","tag-delhi-green-policy","tag-delhi-pollution-solution","tag-delhi-scientific-study","tag-delhi-smog-control","tag-delhi-smog-management","tag-delhi-weather-modification","tag-delhi-weather-news","tag-delhi-winter-pollution","tag-dr-swarnlata-panchal","tag-environmental-challenges-india","tag-environmental-research-india","tag-environmental-science-research","tag-iit-kanpur-research","tag-iit-kanpur-weather-modification","tag-indian-air-quality-study","tag-indian-climate-experiment","tag-indian-environmental-policies","tag-meteorological-department-india","tag-october-2025-weather-trials","tag-pm2-5-reduction-delhi","tag-pollution-control-innovation","tag-pollution-crisis-delhi","tag-pollution-crisis-solution-india","tag-pollution-mitigation-india","tag-pollution-reduction-experiment","tag-post-diwali-smog","tag-rainfall-experiment-delhi","tag-silver-iodide-seeding-india","tag-sodium-chloride-seeding","tag-sustainable-urban-environment-india","tag-urban-sustainability-india","tag-weather-modification-research","tag-western-disturbance-india"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9223"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9229,"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9223\/revisions\/9229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehindustnexpress.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}