The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur announced on Wednesday that there would be no cloud seeding in Delhi today because of insufficient moisture in the atmosphere. The process, which aims to induce artificial rain to reduce pollution, was scheduled after two failed attempts on Tuesday.
In its official statement, IIT Kanpur explained that cloud seeding depends heavily on specific weather conditions, particularly the presence of enough moisture in clouds. Since the required humidity levels were not met on Wednesday, the planned seeding operation had to be postponed.
A Cessna aircraft had been used for Tuesday’s trials, conducted jointly by the Delhi government and IIT Kanpur. The two operations, costing around ₹1.28 crore, did not lead to rainfall but provided valuable scientific data that could help in future efforts to combat Delhi’s severe air pollution.
IIT Kanpur stated that the trials on Tuesday were unable to produce rain because moisture levels in the clouds were only 15–20%, far below what is required for cloud seeding to succeed. However, the process helped the researchers gather important information about Delhi’s atmospheric conditions and the city’s air quality response.
“While rainfall could not be triggered yesterday because moisture levels were around 15 to 20%, the trial delivered valuable insights,” said IIT Kanpur in its statement.
Interestingly, despite the absence of rainfall, the experiment showed a measurable drop in pollution levels. Monitoring stations installed across various parts of Delhi recorded a 6–10% reduction in concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, which are two major pollutants responsible for the city’s poor air quality.
According to the institute, this finding proves that cloud seeding can still have a partial impact even when conditions are not ideal. “The data shows a measurable reduction of 6 to 10 percent in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, indicating that even under limited moisture conditions, cloud seeding can contribute to improved air quality,” the statement noted.
These observations, the institute said, will be crucial for refining future cloud seeding operations. The data will help scientists and weather experts identify the most effective conditions for successful rainfall generation in future trials.
“These observations strengthen our planning for future operations and allow us to better identify conditions where this intervention can deliver maximum benefit. Such learnings form the foundation for more effective deployments ahead,” IIT Kanpur added.
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Even after the cloud seeding efforts, Delhi’s air quality continued to remain under ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’ categories on Wednesday morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, air quality remained hazardous in several key areas of the national capital.
At Anand Vihar, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 316, placing it in the ‘very poor’ range. Similarly, ITO registered an AQI of 300, hovering at the edge of the same category. In RK Puram, the AQI was 305, and in Wazirpur, it touched 332, both also categorized as ‘very poor’.
These readings reflect the ongoing pollution crisis in Delhi, where toxic air continues to threaten public health despite multiple interventions. The failed cloud seeding attempt was one among several emergency measures taken by the Delhi government to reduce pollution during this time of year, when stubble burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial activities combine to worsen smog conditions.
Currently, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage II is in force across the capital region. Under this plan, several restrictions have been implemented, including a ban on the entry of non-BS-VI compliant commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also directed officials to closely monitor industrial and construction emissions.
Despite these efforts, weather conditions—particularly the absence of sufficient wind and moisture—have made pollution dispersal difficult. Experts have said that cloud seeding is not a guaranteed solution, but it can complement other pollution-control measures if carried out under the right atmospheric circumstances.
IIT Kanpur scientists emphasized that they are not discouraged by the failure of Tuesday’s experiment. Instead, they view it as a learning opportunity. “If we fear failure, we will never move forward,” IIT Kanpur Director Abhay Karandikar had said earlier while speaking about the project’s future.
He noted that the trials are part of a larger research initiative aimed at studying how cloud seeding can be used effectively in urban environments like Delhi. The data collected from this week’s attempts will be analyzed in detail to improve the timing, technique, and targeting of future experiments.
Cloud seeding, which involves spraying substances such as silver iodide or sodium chloride into clouds to encourage rainfall, has been used successfully in some regions, but its outcomes depend on weather and cloud types. Scientists believe that consistent observation, experimentation, and data analysis will eventually help in designing a more effective approach for Delhi’s climate.
Officials said that new trials may be planned once the moisture levels in the clouds rise again. The Delhi government is also expected to hold discussions with IIT Kanpur and weather experts to decide the next steps.
For now, Delhiites continue to battle choking smog, with schools, offices, and residents relying on air purifiers and masks. As pollution levels stay high and winter approaches, the government’s experiment with cloud seeding remains a hopeful yet challenging attempt to bring cleaner air to the city.
The latest development serves as a reminder that science-driven environmental interventions require patience and precision. While the artificial rain attempt failed to bring showers, it has helped scientists gather insights that could shape future solutions for Delhi’s persistent air pollution problem.
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