Real Or Artificial Rain? Parts Of Delhi NCR Breath Easy As Light Showers Wash Away Pollution

New Delhi: The residents of Delhi NCR woke up to a pleasant morning on Friday as the sky opened up and showered the city with light rain. The rain, which started on Thursday night, helped in clearing the air of the toxic pollutants that had choked the city for days. The rain was visible from various parts of the city, such as the Kartavya Path and the Delhi-Noida border, where the intensity ranged from light to moderate.

The rain came as a relief for the Delhi government, which had been exploring the option of ‘artificial rain’ to tackle the pollution crisis in the city. Officials said that the government had decided to conduct ‘artificial rain’ on Thursday to improve the air quality. The government had also deployed ministers to monitor the implementation of anti-pollution measures in the city.

Several ministers were seen inspecting various areas and borders on Thursday, where they checked the compliance of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The GRAP, which is a set of emergency measures to combat air pollution, had reached Stage IV in the city after the air quality index (AQI) had crossed the ‘severe plus’ mark.

The GRAP includes measures such as banning construction activities, shutting down power plants, and restricting vehicular movement.