IIT Roorkee develops drone-led cloud seeding method for artificial rain

Roorkee: Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT-R) have developed a drone-based method to enhance artificial rainmaking through cloud seeding, a step towards more cost-effective and locally deployable weather-modification solutions. The capability experimental trials were conducted in collaboration with Hyderabad-based technology firm AccelESG. In the initial phase, researchers flew drones at the permissible height of 100m to assess system stability, dispersal mechanisms and data-collection processes.The researchers used calcium chloride, a hygroscopic compound that attracts and absorbs moisture from the surrounding air. "This technology could help mitigate dry spells, improve soil moisture and reduce farmers' dependence on groundwater for irrigation. We have successfully achieved weather-modification results in the laboratory," said professor A S Maurya, principal investigator from the institute's earth sciences department. The team is now seeking clearances from the state govt and other regulatory agencies, including local air traffic control authorities, to conduct trials at higher altitudes. "Such permissions are essential to evaluate the effectiveness of drone-based cloud seeding under real atmospheric conditions, where clouds form at much greater heights," Maurya said.The researchers said drone-assisted cloud seeding has the potential to address local agricultural challenges, particularly in regions experiencing erratic rainfall. Drones allow precise targeting of cloud systems, lower operational costs compared to aircraft-based seeding, and enable rapid deployment during short-lived cloud formations.The scientists said rainfall could potentially be induced over an area with a radius of nearly 10km through drone-based operations, making the technique suitable for district- or block-level agricultural intervention. Such targeted rainfall enhancement could help bridge dry spells, improve soil moisture and ease pressure on groundwater resources.The initiative gains significance amid increasing climate variability and recurring rainfall deficits affecting farming communities across the country. While further trials and long-term monitoring are needed before large-scale deployment, the initial results point to promising possibilities for supplementing natural rainfall through scientific intervention. "It is the first successful intervention of its kind among all IITs and other premier educational institutions in the country," Maurya said.