Delhi AQI stood at 367 around 10 am on Thursday, November 5, 2026, putting the capital in the 'very poor' category three days before Diwali. At Jahangirpuri, the reading reached 459, classified as 'severe'. Against that backdrop, Delhi officials are considering another attempt to produce rain during the festive period, but no flight schedule or successful rainfall result has been announced. Delhi Air Pollution remains a pressing concern as fireworks, transport emissions, road dust and seasonal weather conditions threaten to worsen the haze. A limited weather experiment could offer temporary relief, provided the right clouds develop.

AQI Before Diwali: What the November 5 Readings Show

At 10 am, the city's aggregate reading was 367, according to Hindustan Times' CPCB-based dashboard. The previous day's official 4 pm bulletin recorded 377. These citywide figures should not be confused with individual monitoring stations: Jahangirpuri's 459 was a local reading, not Delhi's overall average. Air quality can change with wind, temperature and emissions. The 'very poor' band runs from 301 to 400 on India's national scale; 401 to 500 is 'severe'. Forecasters have warned conditions may deteriorate further over the festive weekend.

Two Trial Flights Reported, But No Confirmed Rain

According to The Indian Express, sources described two trials near Indira Gandhi International Airport during the preceding fortnight. The Delhi Environment Department declined to confirm the exercises or supply operational details when approached by the newspaper. More cloud seeding flights are reportedly being considered on two or three dates after Diwali on November 8, with the Chhath period around November 15 also in discussion. Artificial rain has not been formally scheduled. No independently verified account shows that the reported new trials caused measurable rainfall or improved the city's air.

Why the Reported Flight Altitude Needs Checking

Some November 5 reports repeated figures of about 30,000 metres for recent flights and 10,000 metres for 2025. Those numbers should not be published as verified operational heights without flight records. Contemporaneous reporting of IIT Kanpur's October 2025 trials documented flare releases at approximately 4,000 and 5,000–6,000 feet. The Cessna 206H used last year operates far below a claimed 30,000 metres; NASA lists a maximum altitude of 15,700 feet for its Cessna 206H. The aircraft and units behind the latest reports therefore require clarification.

How Cloud Seeding Works and Why It May Fail

The Delhi government and IIT Kanpur are collaborating on a pilot intended to test cloud seeding during exceptional smog episodes. In a February 5 parliamentary response, the government described it as a trial-stage emergency option possible only when suitable cloud cover exists. The technique introduces particles such as silver iodide or salts into moisture-bearing clouds to encourage droplets or ice crystals to grow. It cannot create rain from a clear, dry sky. Delhi's October 2025 experiments did not produce rainfall, highlighting the uncertainty of trying the process during winter.

What Comes Next After Diwali and Chhath?

Artificial rain, if achieved, may temporarily wash suspended particles out of the atmosphere. It cannot prevent fresh emissions from vehicles, construction, industries or crop burning. Experts interviewed by NDTV have stressed the difference between an emergency response and a lasting reduction at the source.

For residents following Delhi AQI, the immediate priority remains official air-quality updates and health advice, not an assumed weather intervention. An AQI reading alone does not guarantee officials will launch an aircraft; weather conditions, approvals and an operational decision must also align. Delhi Air Pollution will need sustained action irrespective of whether another experiment takes place. As of November 5, the proposed dates remain provisional, and no publicly verified results establish that the latest trials delivered rain.