Massive Volcanic Ash Clouds from Ethiopia Just Hit India: Here’s What You Need to Know!

Hayli Gubbi Volcano Ash Reaches India, Moves Across Gujarat, Delhi-NCR & Punjab, Flights Disrupted

A large plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano reached India and caused hazy skies over several states on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) tracked this plume from the time it entered Indian skies late Monday night by using satellites and dispersion models. 

Forecast models showed the volcanic ash spreading over Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana and parts of Maharashtra.

Volcanic Ash Movement and IMD Tracking

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the volcanic ash will leave India by 7:30 pm today. Strong winds at high levels are pushing the ash eastward. The plume will move toward China once it exits India.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted after thousands of years of silence. The blast sent ash up to 45,000 feet into the atmosphere. Winds carried the cloud across the Red Sea, then over Yemen and Oman, before it drifted toward the Arabian Sea and reached India. Satellite images showed the ash moving fast at nearly 100 to 120 km per hour.

The volcanic ash also carried sulphur dioxide and tiny rock particles. Weather agencies noted that these particles stayed mostly in the upper layers of the atmosphere. Delhi’s surface air quality did not show a major jump because local pollution sources remained the main reason for poor AQI in the region.

Impact on Flights and Affected Regions

Flight operations faced trouble due to the volcanic ash. The DGCA issued alerts to airlines, and Akasa Air cancelled flights linked to Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi on November 24 and 25. Met offices in Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata stayed on watch to guide aircraft movements.

The plume will also brush past the Himalayas and parts of the Terai belt in Uttar Pradesh as it moves east. IMD and global volcanic ash centres continue to watch the plume through satellite feeds. Conditions are expected to improve once the ash leaves Indian skies later in the evening.

People in affected cities saw hazy skies and reduced visibility in some areas. Those with breathing issues were advised to take simple precautions until conditions improve. With the plume moving out, clearer skies are likely by nightfall.

The eruption of Hayli Gubbi remains a rare global event. Quick monitoring and steady updates from IMD helped limit disruption across Indian regions. Once the plume crosses into East Asia, the impact on India will end completely.