Volcanic Ash from Ethiopia Reaches Delhi, Disrupts Flights Across India

A plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, dormant for thousands of years, has reached Delhi after sweeping across the Red Sea through Oman and Yemen, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The eruption began Sunday morning, sending an ash column thousands of feet into the atmosphere.

Several flights in India have been cancelled, delayed, or rerouted, with Air India cancelling 11 flights and other carriers like IndiGo, Akasa Air, and KLM also affected. India’s aviation regulator has advised airlines to “strictly avoid” affected areas and issued guidelines for pilots to report any ash encounters and inspect aircraft operating near the zones.

Volcanic ash, composed of tiny, abrasive particles, can damage aircraft engines, contaminate airfields, and reduce visibility.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the ash is between 8.5 km and 15 km above sea level, temporarily affecting satellite functions and flight operations, but is unlikely to impact Delhi’s air quality or weather.

Skymet Weather estimates Delhi’s skies should clear by Tuesday evening.

Experts noted that measuring ash contamination requires prior preparation, which was not possible in this sudden eruption.

Professor Atalay Ayele of Addis Ababa University said the eruption was unusually noisy but did not trigger significant seismic activity. The Hayli Gubbi volcano lies near the active Erta Ale volcanic region.

Volcanic ash clouds are rare, but historical eruptions, like Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, have caused widespread aviation disruption.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the ash cloud moves eastward. Agencies