New Delhi: Hopes of immediate relief from Delhi’s toxic air have weakened. The Meteorological Department has clarified that there is no possibility of rain in the capital and the surrounding plains until November 15. This has dashed hopes that rain could help reduce pollution. On the other hand, the plan to carry out artificial rain has also stalled for now because of unfavourable weather conditions.
According to India Meteorological Department Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the impact of a western disturbance may bring rain and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, but there is no possibility of sufficient rainfall in Delhi-NCR. The sky over the capital may remain cloudy on November 12 and 13, but this will not bring enough rain to reduce pollution.
For artificial rain, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and the Delhi government are working on the possibilities of cloud seeding. However, according to the Meteorological Department, the present clouds are not favourable for this process. Medium and high-level clouds are likely in the sky, while effective artificial rainfall requires a specific type of convective cloud. In such a situation, the possibility of adequate rain through cloud seeding is low.
Meanwhile, on November 12, Delhi’s average Air Quality Index was recorded at 319, which falls in the very poor category. Of the capital’s 58 monitoring stations, 36 recorded an AQI above 300. At IIT Delhi, it reached 413.
Relief from pollution appears difficult until there is a change in weather and an increase in wind speed.
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