The Delhi government is expected to attempt cloud seeding on Tuesday if weather conditions are favourable, according to sources.
Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast cloud cover for Monday and Tuesday. Even as the conditions were favourable on Monday, the cloud seeding could not be undertaken as ministers were busy with Chhath celebrations, said officials.
“Due to Chhath rituals on Tuesday morning… cloud seeding might not be possible, but if weather conditions are favourable afterwards till evening, it will definitely be done,” said an official.
Cloud seeding, where silver iodide is dispersed over clouds to artificially induce rain, has been delayed several times in the Capital due to weather-related challenges this year. The BJP-led Delhi government conducted its first trial with the help of IIT Kanpur from Burari to Kanpur route, on October 23, with CM Rekha Gupta calling it “a historic step”.
Since Diwali, the air quality in Delhi-NCR has been worsening, triggering concerns. The AQI on Monday, as per the Central Pollution Control Board, in the Capital was 301 in the ‘very poor’ category, as the levels improved from a day before when it was reported at 315.
Meanwhile, the contribution of farm fires to Delhi’s PM 2.5 levels is expected to increase in the coming days, according to a forecast by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System on Monday. According to the IITM records, the contribution has remained uneven, as it was reported upto 1% till October 16. This slightly rose on October 17 to 2.62% and again dropped to less than 1%.
Post-Diwali on October 20, the general trend has been an uptick in the contribution as the levels reached 3.45% highest so far reported this season. On Monday, it was at 1.86% and the forecasts showed that this would increase to 5.87 % by Wednesday. As per the IMD, southeasterly winds had blown into the capital on Monday, and the wind direction would change to northeasterly by Wednesday with forecasts showing eventually the Northwesterly winds dominating the route.
According to the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) on Monday, 189 residue burning events have been detected by satellites with the highest being 147 in Punjab, followed by 7 in Haryana, 4 in Uttar Pradesh, and the rest in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. So far, 2,965 burning events were detected from September 15 with highest at UP 973, Punjab 890, Haryana 78, Rajasthan 538 and 483 in Madhya Pradesh.
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Last week, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa had said that the artificial rain through cloud seeding would be done between October 29 to 30, as that’s one they await cloud cover as per the IMD.
In its bulletin on Monday, the IMD said, “A fresh Western Disturbance likely to impact Western Himalayan Region and adjoining northern plains of India, from 27th October, 2025 to morning of 29th October 2025. Under its influence,the possibility of one or two spells of very light rain/drizzle is likely over Delhi during the evening of 27th October to morning of 28th October 2025.”
The seeding is possible with a minimum requirement of 50% moisture with cloud mass at a certain height as seeding can happen in two ways from above the cloud (typically around altitudes of 5500 meters), and below the cloud (typically around altitudes of 2000 meters) as per IIT Kanpur scientists. The process helps form ice crystals to cause precipitation.
Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Professional Background
Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education.
Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses:
1. The Air Pollution Crisis
"A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure.
"Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR.
"Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter.
2. Enforcement & Regulations
"No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy.
3. Education Policy
"Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025.
"Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation.
Signature Style
Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws.
X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read More
