Pollution: Authorities plan artificial rain'

New Delhi: In the wake of rising pollution in the national capital, authorities might seed clouds to induce artificial rain this week to wash away toxic pollutants. Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated to alarming levels in the past three weeks.

A senior meteorological official said that cloud seeding for artificial rain would be done once the meteorological conditions are stable. He said plans are being made to induce rainfall this week. However, if the conditions are not found suitable, 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.