Delhi plans 1st artificial rain for pollution control
Delhi is gearing up for its first-ever artificial rain experiment from July 4-11 (if the weather cooperates), hoping to clear out some of that stubborn air pollution.
The city's Environment Department, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has teamed up with IIT Kanpur and submitted the necessary flight plans for approval.
Five modified Cessna planes will fly over northwest and outer Delhi, dropping a special mix into the clouds.
How the experiment will work
The idea is simple: these flights will spray silver iodide and salts into moisture-heavy clouds to trigger rain, which could help wash away harmful particles in the air.
The IMD will guide timing with real-time cloud data, while air quality stations will track if pollution levels actually drop.
It's Delhi's first big scientific step toward using weather tech to tackle urban smog—so all eyes are on whether it works.