Volcanic Ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi Volcano Expected to Affect Northwest India

A massive cloud of volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, erupting for the first time in thousands of years, is expected to reach northwest India on Monday night, according to meteorological experts. The phenomenon is likely to affect parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi–NCR, and Punjab over the coming hours, raising concerns primarily for aviation operations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that the ash plumes are rising between 10 and 15 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. These plumes contain volcanic ash, fine rock particles, and sulphur dioxide. While the plume is high in the atmosphere, officials indicate that surface-level impact will be minimal. IMD Director General M. Mohapatra explained that residents in affected cities may notice hazy skies and a marginal rise in temperatures, but significant air quality deterioration is unlikely.

Airlines have already begun adjusting operations. Several flights have been cancelled or rerouted to avoid the ash-affected airspace, which has moved across the Red Sea into the Middle East and Central Asia before heading towards India. A Mumbai airport official confirmed that multiple flights were being rerouted through Pakistan’s airspace. Aviation authorities, including the DGCA, are monitoring the situation closely. Officials have warned that if the ash settles over major cities like Delhi and Jaipur by Tuesday, flight disruptions could become more severe.

Meteorological experts have highlighted that while the upper-level ash plume poses limited risk at ground level, the movement of the ash across Central Asia and into India may contribute slightly to rising pollution levels. Delhi and the surrounding NCR region were already experiencing very poor air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 382 at 4 pm on Monday. Ghaziabad and Noida recorded AQIs of 396 and 397 respectively, while Greater Noida registered 382 and Faridabad 232, indicating existing environmental stress that could be marginally aggravated by the ash cloud.

For now, residents are unlikely to notice significant disruptions beyond hazy skies and slight temperature changes. However, travelers are advised to check airline updates and expect possible flight delays in the coming days as authorities continue monitoring the situation.

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