New Delhi, Oct 29 (NationPress) The eagerly awaited effort to create artificial rain through cloud seeding in sections of Delhi was deemed "not entirely successful." As per IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal, the setback was primarily due to the lack of moisture in the clouds, highlighting that cloud seeding is not a cure-all for Delhi’s pollution issues but rather a last-resort strategy. He also mentioned that the team intends to make new attempts on Wednesday.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV on Tuesday, Agrawal, whose institution is partnering with the Delhi government for this experimental initiative, expressed optimism for better outcomes during the next attempts on Wednesday.

“There hasn’t been any rain yet. So, in that context, it was not fully successful. Regrettably, the clouds today had a very low moisture content of about 15–20 percent. The chances of inducing rain with such minimal moisture levels are quite low. However, this trial has bolstered our team's confidence to continue conducting them,” Agrawal stated to NDTV.

The team, led by IIT Kanpur, employed a mixture consisting of 20 percent silver iodide, complemented by rock salt and common salt for the cloud seeding process. On Tuesday, a total of 14 flares were deployed.

“There were mixed forecasts regarding the possibility of rain today. Some predictions suggested rain, while others did not. Our observations indicated that the cloud cover was significantly lacking in moisture — and this could be applicable to the entire area we surveyed. Therefore, we do not anticipate rain today,” Agrawal added.

He noted that two additional flights are planned for Wednesday, with operations continuing whenever appropriate cloud cover is present.

When questioned if cloud seeding could serve as a long-term solution for Delhi’s ongoing air pollution, Agrawal was clear in his stance.

“It is an emergency solution, intended for use only during crises when pollution levels are alarmingly high. It is not a permanent fix. The ultimate solution lies in managing the sources of pollution. Ideally, we should reach a point where cloud seeding is unnecessary because pollution has been addressed. Until then, this remains one of the available tools for temporary relief,” he explained.

Agrawal acknowledged that the current expenses of the operations are considerable since the flights are conducted from Uttar Pradesh. Nonetheless, he mentioned that these costs could be significantly lowered in future attempts.

“Any initiative that contributes even partially to reducing pollution is beneficial for everyone. Even if rain arrives a few days later, it can still offer some respite,” he added.

A preliminary report from the Delhi government indicated that the cloud seeding experiment did assist in lowering particulate matter levels in several targeted areas. Minor precipitation events recorded 0.1 mm of rain in Noida and 0.2 mm in Greater Noida around 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Before the seeding, PM 2.5 levels were measured at 221 (Mayur Vihar), 230 (Karol Bagh), and 229 (Burari). Post-seeding, levels dropped to 207, 206, and 203 respectively.

Similarly, PM 10 levels decreased from 207, 206, and 209 to 177, 163, and 177 in the same areas.

Delhi’s Forest and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that two cloud seeding attempts were executed on Tuesday — one in the morning and another in the evening — with support from IIT Kanpur.

“Today, one attempt occurred in the morning and another in the evening. We are still compiling the results,” Sirsa told IANS, stressing that the Delhi government is dedicated to seeking scientific solutions to tackle the city’s toxic air.

This experiment takes place amidst a significant decline in Delhi’s air quality following the Diwali celebrations. The Air Quality Index (AQI) across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) has remained in the "poor" to "very poor" range, with smog engulfing large areas of the city.

Cloud seeding involves dispersing materials like silver iodide nanoparticles, iodized salt, and dry ice into the atmosphere to encourage cloud condensation and stimulate rainfall. It is frequently employed in regions facing water shortages or to mitigate hail and fog.

On Tuesday, IIT Kanpur’s aircraft covered a corridor approximately 25 nautical miles (46.3 km) long and four nautical miles (7.4 km) wide, spanning areas from Khekra to Burari colonies.

The first flight released six flares at around 4,000 feet, while the second, which departed at 3:55 p.m., deployed eight flares at a slightly elevated altitude of 5,000 feet.

Despite the absence of rainfall, experts regard the trial as a notable technical success, representing one of India’s most sophisticated urban cloud seeding operations to date.