Each October, Delhi’s “pollution season” returns with a vengeance, and the days after Diwali typically mark the first major spike. This year was no exception: the capital woke to hazardous smog after the festivities, with global trackers ranking Delhi among the most polluted major cities and AQI readings surging well beyond safe limits. Fireworks, cold air, and stagnant winds piled on top of vehicle emissions and construction dust to create a thick, persistent haze.
What exactly happened after Diwali 2025?
Reports in the days following the festival documented “hazardous” AQI levels across the city, with PM2.5 concentrations dozens of times higher than the WHO guideline. While “green crackers” were permitted in limited fashion, on-ground compliance was patchy, amplifying the city’s already heavy pollution load. Forecasts suggested only modest relief in the immediate term.
Independent analyses also flagged just how extreme the spike was. One review noted an average PM2.5 near 488 µg/m³ post-Diwali, more than triple pre-festival levels, underscoring the outsized role of firecracker emissions during this window, even as stubble-burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana showed a year-on-year drop.
Why is India trying “artificial rain”?
To break the smog, authorities moved ahead with a cloud-seeding pilot over New Delhi, an attempt to induce rainfall, which can temporarily wash particulate matter out of the air. A Cessna aircraft released seeding flares over targeted zones as part of a joint effort involving IIT-Kanpur and the Delhi government, Delhi’s first such operation in decades.
Cloud seeding is not magic; it needs the right clouds. When moisture or cloud depth is insufficient, flights are postponed. After initial sorties, officials said further trials would only proceed when ambient moisture climbs above ~30% to meaningfully improve the odds of precipitation. On some scheduled days, runs were canceled for precisely this reason.
How does cloud seeding work?
In simplified terms, tiny particles, often silver iodide or salt, are dispersed into suitable clouds to encourage droplet formation and rainfall. The Delhi pilot was designed around flare-based systems and coordinated with airspace and weather agencies; real-time monitors tracked PM2.5/PM10 shifts around the target corridors. It’s a scientifically grounded but situational tool, and its benefits, if any, are short-lived without broader emission cuts.
Will it solve Delhi’s smog?
Even an ideal cloud-seeding day offers, at best, a temporary dip in pollution. The dominant sources, traffic, industry, construction dust, waste burning, require sustained, multi-sector measures: cleaner fuels and fleets, dust suppression, stricter enforcement, and regional coordination on agricultural burning. In other words, “artificial rain” can be a relief valve, not a cure. Meanwhile, residents still need practical ways to navigate day-to-day exposure.
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What you can do today
1) Watch the numbers, then plan your day. Check AQI in the morning and before commuting. If PM2.5 is in the “very poor” or “hazardous” range, shift workouts indoors, use N95/FFP2 masks outside, and consider a purifier at home or work. AllerAid’s live AQI and trend view make this effortless.
2) Reduce indoor exposure. On bad-air days, keep windows shut during peak hours, run purifiers on higher settings, and wet-mop to trap dust. If cooking with gas, ensure good ventilation.
3) Track symptoms and triggers. Pollution and allergens often act together. Use the in-app diary to note cough, wheeze, itchy eyes, or sinus pressure, and correlate spikes with AQI, pollen, or smoke alerts. Over a few weeks, patterns become clear, and your Allergy-Free Score can improve as you respond faster.
4) Prepare for seasonal swings. Delhi’s inversion-driven smog isn’t a one-day story. Set up AllerAid reminders for medications and environmental alerts so you get nudges when conditions turn. If authorities announce short-term interventions like odd-even traffic plans or school closures, adjust your routines accordingly.
The bottom line
Post-Diwali smog is a complex problem, and cloud seeding, while headline-grabbing, remains a tactical experiment that depends on the weather and offers limited, temporary relief. The long game is cleaner energy, cleaner transport, dust control, and compliance. Until then, your best defense is smart, real-time awareness and proactive habits, and that’s exactly what AllerAid delivers. Download it, track the air you breathe, understand your symptoms, and make each day a little safer.