Delhi Plans Artificial Rain As Air Quality Worsens After Diwali Fireworks

The Delhi government is preparing to conduct the much-anticipated artificial rain through cloud seeding this week as the air quality in the national capital worsened, partly due to the use of firecrackers during Diwali.

According to sources, the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta-led government, which came to power in February on the promise of providing cleaner air in Delhi, is expecting a green signal from the meteorological department between October 24 and 26, as weather conditions during that period are expected to be favourable.

Delhi's Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa recently confirmed that the first trial of artificial rain through cloud seeding will be held after Diwali, once the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) gives a green light.

During a media briefing last Wednesday, Sirsa said that pilots have already completed trial flights over the area where the cloud seeding operation is planned.