Delhi's battle against choking smog took a dramatic turn on October 29, 2025, as the BJP government prepares for a second attempt at artificial rain via cloud seeding, following two failed trials the previous day that cost ₹1.28 crore. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced a potential go-ahead after 4 p.m., contingent on rising moisture levels forecast by the IMD. "As soon as the moisture report comes, the next trial will be started," he assured ANI, emphasizing the aircraft's readiness from Meerut base.

The Tuesday experiments, conducted by IIT Kanpur using a single-propeller plane dispersing silver iodide flares over northwest Delhi and the NCR, yielded no precipitation due to low cloud moisture (10-15%). However, the institute highlighted "valuable insights," including a 6-10% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 levels from localized effects. IIT Kanpur noted the process's dependence on atmospheric conditions, aiming to test efficacy at varying moisture thresholds—historically effective at 50%, but now trialed at lower levels for research.

Despite the optimism, Delhi's air remained "very poor" Wednesday morning, with AQI at 316 in Anand Vihar and 300 at ITO. Sirsa defended the initiative amid opposition jabs from AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj, who mocked the need to distinguish "artificial" from natural rain. The AAP had proposed similar trials in 2023 but blamed the Centre for lacking permissions; now, under BJP rule, the cabinet has allocated ₹3.21 crore for five attempts.

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Globally, cloud seeding remains controversial, effective mainly for enhancing snowpack but unproven for warm-season rain or pollution control. IIT Delhi's Shahzad Gani labeled the efforts "futile," arguing they require rare rain-bearing clouds during peak smog season and offer only temporary relief. As Delhi gasps for clean air, today's trial hangs on the weather gods—proving once again that science's promises often bow to nature's whims.

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