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NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: In an unprecedented atmospheric event, a massive plume of volcanic ash from the eruption of the long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia has drifted thousands of kilometers to settle over Indian airspace, creating a severe crisis for domestic and international aviation and raising new anxieties over North India’s already ‘Very Poor’ air quality.
The eruption, the volcano’s first in nearly 12,000 years, launched an ash cloud containing pulverized rock, glass particles, and Sulphur Dioxide to altitudes up to 45,000 feet. Carried by high-level winds at speeds of up to 120 km/h, the plume crossed the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula, entering Indian airspace over Gujarat and moving eastward across Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR, and Punjab overnight.
Aviation Shut-Down: The Silent Threat to Jet Engines
The immediate and most dramatic impact has been on air travel. Volcanic ash, being composed of tiny, sharp fragments of rock and glass, poses an existential threat to jet engines. These particles can melt in the intense heat of the engine and coat the internal components, leading to engine failure.
In a swift and coordinated response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an urgent advisory to all airlines, directing them to strictly avoid ash-affected areas and flight levels.
Mass Cancellations:
Multiple carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air, have cancelled or heavily re-routed several flights, particularly those on the busy India-Gulf and India-Europe corridors.
Safety Measures:
Airlines initiated detailed inspections and precautionary checks on aircraft that had flown over affected regions, while airports in Delhi and Mumbai were tasked with remaining vigilant for ash contamination on runways and airfield surfaces.
The Re-routing Headache:
Flights that are operating are taking significant detours to avoid the ash corridor, leading to longer flight times and increased operational costs.
The ‘Very Poor’ Air Gets a Haze of Concern
The arrival of the exotic ash cloud instantly became an additional talking point in Delhi, which is already choking under a persistent layer of local and regional emissions, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) stubbornly locked in the ‘Very Poor’ category (above 300).
While the ash plume is circulating at high altitudes—between 10 km and 15 km above the surface—meteorological experts have offered cautious reassurance that a major, sustained spike in ground-level pollution is unlikely.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that the plume’s transit over India is expected to be short-lived, with the ash clouds drifting further eastward toward China and expected to clear Indian skies by Tuesday evening.
However, environmental analysts remain concerned. The sheer volume of Sulphur Dioxide and fine particulates in the volcanic plume, even at high altitude, could interact with the already “saturated airshed” of North India, potentially creating a new, toxic haze or contributing to a marginal, temporary spike in local pollution. Residents reported noticeably darker and hazier skies across the National Capital Region this morning, underscoring the atmospheric anomaly.
The Hayli Gubbi ash cloud is serving as a stark, long-distance reminder of how interconnected the world’s atmosphere is, forcing India to grapple simultaneously with both a severe aviation crisis and heightened anxiety over its perennial battle with toxic air.
[Newsroom article is original. Facts are honestly sourced and rephrased from Ethiopian ash plume/IMD statements, The Hindu, NDTV, India Today, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, The Indian Express, and others ). No text copied.]
