Artificial rain, underground water to relief N. Chinas drought

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The drought-hit regions are in dire need of water, but extreme conditions have made this precious resource very hard to find. To help ease the situation, relevant parties are rolling up sleeves, with measures that include drilling for underground water and creating artificial rain.











PeopleirrigatethewheatfieldintheWolong
DistrictofNanyang,acityincentralChina's
HenanProvince,onFeb.4,2009.Henan,China's
majorgrainproducer,issuedaredalertfor
droughtonJan.29.Theprovincialmeteorological
bureausaidthedroughtistheworstsince1951.
Thedroughthasaffected63percentofthe
province's5.26millionhectaresofwheat.
(Xinhua/XiongYunbin)

Modern technology against the sometimes cruel power of Mother Nature. Flying above the clouds, the Air Force takes up the role of a modern Rain God with iron wings. So far five flights have been dispatched to five provinces to create artificial rain, and another fifteen planes are on standby for orders to take off.