Hoping to trigger rain amid worsening AQI levels in Delhi, authorities are likely to conduct a fresh round of cloud-seeding trials over the capital in the next few days, with a team from IIT-Kanpur ready to carry out the operations.
Delhi woke up to another morning of hazardous air quality on Friday, with pollution levels plunging into the 'severe' category across several parts of the national capital. The Air Quality Index (AQI) at ITO touched 455, while multiple other locations, including AIIMS, Anand Vihar and Akshardham, recorded readings above 400.
The authorities said that the timing of the trial would depend on meteorological conditions, particularly the moisture content in the clouds.
"If meteorological conditions suit, then we will immediately draw out a flight path and leave," an official said.
The proposed exercise aims to test the viability of cloud-seeding in inducing artificial rainfall to help curb the capital’s pollution crisis. It will not be Delhi’s first attempt at using the weather-modification technique.
Meanwhile, the IMD has not issued any specific weather activity in Delhi. The IMD has forecast dry weather across Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh on Saturday. According to its seven-day rainfall forecast, no rainfall activity is expected in the region.
Though the government conducted back-to-back cloud-seeding trials in Delhi, it was not successful. During the trials, a small aircraft was flown over parts of the city and released silver iodide and sodium chloride particles through chemical flares.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), ITO recorded an AQI of 455, placing it in the severe category. Rajokri Border reported an AQI of 402, while the reading around AIIMS stood at 417-418.
Under the revised GRAP framework, AQI readings of 401-450 fall under the 'Severe' category, while readings above 450 fall under 'Severe Plus'.
