7 days ago
Rajasthan launches first-ever drone cloud seeding experiment for rain. Key details
Rajasthan is rolling out something new today, India's first drone cloud seeding trial near Ramgarh Dam in Jaipur. Starting at 2 pm, Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena will launch a one-of-its-kind pilot where 60 drones release rain-making chemicals into seeding isn't magic, it's a method that helps clouds with enough moisture release rain by injecting particles like silver iodide or salt. Traditionally, aircraft have done this. Today's experiment brings in drones, offering sharper control and quicker pilot is a joint effort between the Rajasthan Agriculture Department and US-Bengaluru firm GenX AI, using AI to steer each drone precisely. It's especially useful for arid areas like Rajasthan that find monsoon clouds but often miss out on rain where it's needed.
The event was planned for July 31, but heavy rain warnings pushed it back to today. In the meantime, scientists have been carrying out test runs in Jaipur to get things safety checks are in place, a string of approvals from the Agriculture Department, Meteorological Department, District Administration, and the DGCA have already come through. Locals have been invited to watch this live real hope riding on this test. In 2023, a cloud-seeding effort at Chittorgarh's Bhaisunda Dam cost around Rs 10 crore, but failed because moisture was low. If drones can target just the right clouds, this could be a big win for farmers and drought response in Rajasthan.- Ends
