NEW DELHI: An ash cloud from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano hit parts of India Monday evening, according to IndiaMetSky Weather. The plumes first entered Gujarat from the west and then moved rapidly toward Rajasthan, northwest Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab by around 10 pm, and is drifting towards the Himalayas and other northern regions.Authorities watched the plume’s movement towards Delhi and Jaipur, with early signs spotted near Jamnagar around 5.30 pm, leading to disruptions as the situation developed.
The ash plume is travelling at altitudes between 15,000-25,000 feet, rising up to 45,000 feet in some layers, and carries volcanic ash, sulphur dioxide, and tiny particles of glass and rock. IndiaMetSky Weather warned that skies could appear “darker and hazier than usual” and said that the plume may disrupt air traffic and lead to “delays and longer travel.”
Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts for first time after 10,000 years (Photo: ANI)
What it is, how it travelled?
The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) said the explosive eruption began around 8:30 am GMT on Sunday, marking the first activity from the almost 10,000-year-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano.Thick columns of ash rose up to 14 kilometres into the sky from the Afar region, located around 800 km northeast of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border.The VAAC confirmed that while the eruption had stopped, “a large ash plume is moving toward northern India.”The volcano sits within the geologically active Rift Valley, where two tectonic plates meet. After erupting, the ash swept across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman before drifting eastwards into India and northern Pakistan, according to VAAC and regional media outlets.
What are the major cities impacted?
The windborne ash cloud swept across vast stretches of northwest India on Monday night, passing over Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR and Punjab. Visibility dipped in several pockets as the plume drifted eastward.IndiaMetSky Weather said, “Ash clouds moving towards North India. A large ash plume can be seen stretching from #HayliGubbi Volcano region upto #Gujarat. The eruption has stopped ever since the eruption, but this Ash plume has been sent up into the atmosphere, which is moving at a speed of 100-120km/h toward North India.”It added that the plume, containing volcanic ash, sulphur dioxide and “small particles of glass/rock,” would likely darken the skies and impact flight routes. “The Ash cloud is about to enter #Gujarat (West side) and move towards #Rajasthan NW #Maharashtra, #Delhi, #Haryana and #Punjab by 10 pm and later it will impact the Himalayas and other regions,” the agency said.By late night, the sulphur dioxide–rich plume was already moving over Delhi, NCR, Haryana and adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh. IndiaMetSky Weather explained that although some pockets of ash could be seen over Rajasthan, chances of ashfall on the plains remained “less.”
Also read: ‘Moving at a speed of 100-120km/h’: Ethiopian volcanic ash drifts towards India — 10 things to know
Will the ash effect AQI?
According to the meteorological service, the ash cloud’s altitude means that India’s surface-level AQI is not expected to deteriorate.It reiterated that the event was “mostly safe” and said it would “not like to impact surface AQI levels as Ash clouds are in 25,000 to 45,000 feet above the surface.”The agency said the plume was stretching from the Oman–Arabian Sea region into northern and central India. “Its will not impact AQI levels but it will impact So2 level at #Hills of #Nepal, #Himalayas and adjoining Terai belt of #UttarPradesh as some of the material will bump into the hills and later move into China,” it posted on X. It clarified that the plume would drift over Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan, but the impact on the ground would be limited to darker skies and hazier conditions. While a few particles might fall to the surface, IndiaMetSky described the likelihood as “low.”The agency also noted that residents might notice skies resembling a dust storm, though without harmful concentrations of particulate matter at ground level. People were advised to wear masks as a precaution, but officials stressed that the event was occurring at “middle levels of the atmosphere.”Also read: Ethiopia’s volcanic ash cloud enters India: Is Delhi’s already ‘very poor’ air at risk?
A satellite image shows ash rising from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia as it drifts over the Red Sea.
Airline issue warnings
Following the ash drift, airlines issued cautionary notices for flights operating through Middle Eastern airspace. In India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released an advisory on Monday instructing airlines and airports to prepare for possible disruptions. It directed carriers to avoid volcanic-ash-affected routes and adjust flight plans, routing and fuel loads based on the latest advisories. The DGCA also said airports must immediately inspect runways, taxiways and aprons if ash contamination is suspected and restrict operations until cleaning is completed.Also Read: What is the new Ethiopian volcanic ash cloud speeding towards India?Several carriers, including Akasa Air, IndiGo and KLM, cancelled flights on Monday. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport also alerted passengers that volcanic activity in Ethiopia had affected West Asian airspace and may impact some international routes, advising travellers to check with their airlines before heading to the airport.
