Ash clouds from Ethiopia’s rare volcanic eruption drifted toward India late Monday, triggering widespread concern across Delhi, NCR, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. For the first time in nearly 12,000 years, Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted on 23 November, sending massive plumes of ash up to 14 km (45,000 feet) into the atmosphere. With the cloud rapidly moving east, it briefly entered Indian airspace on 25–26 November, forcing flight cancellations, air route diversions and raising fears about possible impact on weather and air quality.
More than 24 hours later, the big question remains: Is North India still at risk, or has the threat completely passed? The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now issued a clear update.
🌫️ Ash Cloud Entered India Around 11 PM Monday
According to meteorological observations, the ash cloud first touched Indian airspace around 11 PM on Monday, drifting over:
- Gujarat
- Rajasthan
- Delhi-NCR
- Punjab
- Haryana
The plume had travelled thousands of kilometers after the eruption and was carried by strong upper-level winds. Although the ash was at very high altitudes, its movement caused turbulence in international flight paths and sparked public concern over pollution levels.
Videos shared online showed a thick, towering white plume rising from the volcano, though these visuals remain unverified. The eruption occurred in Ethiopia’s Afar region near the Eritrean border — a zone known for tectonic activity.
🛰️ IMD Confirms: Ash Plume Has Completely Exited India
The IMD’s latest satellite-based assessment reveals reassuring news.
According to the agency, by 10:30 PM on Tuesday, the ash plume had entirely moved out of India’s airspace.
This means:
- No continued transport of volcanic ash toward North India
- No expected impact on Delhi’s local weather
- No further risk to air quality from this event
The plume has now travelled eastwards into regions over Nepal, parts of the Himalayas, and beyond.
Earlier, the IMD had noted that the ash column had risen to 45,000 feet — a height that heavily affects international aviation corridors but does not easily influence ground-level weather conditions.
🌫️ Was Delhi’s Air Quality Impacted?
Delhi’s AQI remained in the ‘very poor’ category (around 360–370), but IMD scientists and air quality experts clarified that the volcanic ash did not significantly affect surface pollution.
Only minor, short-lived spikes in PM2.5 and SO2 were recorded in some pockets between 11 PM and 2 AM:
- Mandir Marg
- Anand Vihar
- Punjabi Bagh
These fluctuations stayed within expected winter pollution patterns and did not show a clear, direct link to volcanic ash.
Experts say this is because the ash travelled at very high altitudes (35,000–45,000 feet), far above the layer where Delhi’s winter smog accumulates.
✈️ Impact on Flights: Cancellations and Route Changes
The ash cloud had a much greater effect on aviation than on public health.
Airlines worldwide, including those operating in and out of India, took precautionary measures as volcanic ash can severely damage aircraft engines.
Flight Disruptions Reported
- Air India: Cancelled 11 international flights on Monday and Tuesday
- IndiGo: Issued advisories and adjusted routes
- Akasa Air: Warned passengers of possible delays
- KLM, Emirates, and Qatar Airways: Rerouted aircraft to avoid ash-heavy regions
Several flights flying over the Arabian Peninsula or Red Sea regions were diverted to alternate paths.
The DGCA advised all airlines to:
- Avoid affected flight corridors
- Conduct special inspections for aircraft that may have crossed ash zones
- Closely monitor satellite and VAAC alerts
As of Tuesday night, with the plume out of Indian airspace, flight operations are expected to normalize gradually.
🌍 Why the Ash Didn’t Affect Ground Weather in India
Meteorologists explained that the volcanic plume stayed confined to upper-tropospheric levels, moving at nearly 100–120 km/hr.
Because of:
- High altitude
- Rapid eastward movement
- Low ash density near ground
…the event had no significant influence on:
- Local temperature
- Visibility
- Rainfall
- Surface-level pollution
Experts also stated that isolated ash particles detected in some higher-altitude Himalayan regions are not unusual and pose no threat to the general population.
✔️ So, Is the Threat Over?
Yes.
IMD has confirmed that as of Tuesday night:
- The ash plume has fully exited Indian skies
- No more ash drift is expected
- Delhi and North India are not at risk
- Air quality is being driven by local pollution, not volcanic activity
The AQI continues to remain in the “very poor” category due to the usual winter inversion and pollution buildup — unrelated to the eruption.
