• Delhi conducts its first cloud seeding trial to combat worsening air pollution.
• Artificial rain is expected on October 29 if weather conditions are favorable.
• Delhi's air quality deteriorated due to Diwali festivities and crop burning.
• Cloud seeding employs chemicals to induce rainfall and clear the air of pollutants.
• Experts caution that cloud seeding's effects on pollution may be temporary.

This week, Delhi undertook its first trial flight for cloud seeding to address the deteriorating air quality exacerbated by recent Diwali celebrations, which resulted in a spike in pollution. The city is grappling with severe air quality issues, classified as “very poor,” which has prompted the government to explore artificial rainfall as a potential solution. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated that "cloud seeding flares were fired" during the trial to assess operational capabilities and coordination among agencies involved in the project, according to aa and scmp.

The planned seeding is intended to take place after favorable weather conditions are confirmed on October 29. Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has highlighted the significance of this initiative, suggesting that it marks a historic scientific approach to mitigate pollution levels in the capital. This would involve a Cessna aircraft dispersing aerosols that facilitate rainfall, a process confirmed by scmp and indiatimes.

New Delhi is frequently listed among the world's most polluted cities, particularly during winter when emissions from factories and vehicular traffic combine with crop burning, leading to hazardous air quality levels. Reports indicate that particulate matter (PM2.5) levels have reached over 56 times safe limits following Diwali festivities. Activists and scientists emphasize the need for innovative methods like cloud seeding to help alleviate the persistent smog caused by these combined sources of pollution, as noted by scmp and indiatimes.

Despite the promising outlook, implementing cloud seeding in a metropolitan area poses various challenges, including ensuring the presence of adequately moist clouds for effective rainfall induction. Experts warn that the benefits of artificial rain may only offer temporary relief from pollution, urging further scientific evaluation and analysis of the method's efficacy in urban settings, as stated in indiatimes and aa.