On Friday morning, rain in New Delhi and its surrounding areas provided some relief to the Indian capital, which has been facing severe air pollution. Authorities are considering the option of cloud seeding to help improve the situation.

As of Thursday, New Delhi was ranked as the most polluted city in the world. However, on Friday morning, the air quality index (AQI) showed an improvement to 127, a positive development compared to the “hazardous” levels of 400-500 that were recorded in the previous week. This information comes from IQAir, a Swiss organization.

The weather bureau in India predicts on-and-off rain in the city and nearby regions until Friday morning. There may also be light rainfall in neighboring states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

On Friday morning, New Delhi was the 10th most polluted city in the world, while Kolkata, in India’s east, topped the global chart with an AQI of 303.

The air quality in Mumbai, the financial hub, has significantly improved thanks to rainfall in the surrounding coastal regions.

This year, the focus on the deteriorating air quality has overshadowed the cricket World Cup being hosted by India.

Researchers and officials had intended to use cloud seeding in New Delhi on or around November 20 in order to induce substantial rainfall, marking the initial effort to purify the city’s air.

Each year before winter, the city is covered in a dense blanket of smog caused by a combination of heavy, chilled air and the accumulation of dust, vehicle pollutants, and smoke from burning crop residue in Punjab and Haryana.

On Friday, there will be rain two days prior to the Diwali celebration. During this time, numerous individuals disregard a prohibition on fireworks, leading to a significant increase in air pollution levels.

The city’s local government, with a population of 20 million and an area of approximately 1,500 square kilometers, has taken measures to address pollution. These include the closure of schools, halting construction, and implementing restrictions on vehicle usage.