Artificial rain planned to wash away pollutants in Delhi air

Artificial rain planned to wash away pollutants in Delhi air
India's presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan is seen shrouded in smog in New Delhi on November 5. Photo: Reuters

New Delhi: In the wake of rising pollution in the city, authorities might seed clouds to induce artificial rain this week to wash away toxic pollutants in the air.

Delhi's air quality has deteriorated to alarming levels in the past three weeks.

Cloud seeding for artificial rain would be done once the meteorological conditions are stable, a senior official said.

He said plans are to induce rainfall this week, but if the meteorological conditions are not found suitable then it would be done next week.

Cloud seeding is the process of combining different kinds of chemical agents, including silver iodide, dry ice and even common table salt, with existing clouds in an effort to thicken them and increase the chance of rainfall.

The weathermen are monitoring conditions to become favourable for creating artificial rain, which can be induced in 24 hours, the official said.

Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Tuesday due to humidity and slow wind speed.

The overall air quality index was recorded at 352, which falls in the 'very poor' category, according Central Pollution Control Board data.

In 2016, the government tried to explore the possibility of cloud seeding for artificial rain but the plan never worked out.

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