A huge ash cloud from the Hayli Gubbi volcano in northern Ethiopia sailed across the Arabian Sea and reached India on Monday night. The plume is now drifting over parts of northern India, which has led the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to issue safety instructions for airlines. Experts say the ash largely resides at mid‑level altitudes, so it isn’t expected to worsen the country’s surface air quality.
The eruption, which erupted after the dormant volcano suddenly resurfaced on Sunday, spewed a dense plume. This plume crossed the Red Sea, blew past Yemen and Oman, and then turned toward the Indian subcontinent. By 11 p.m. on Monday the ash entered Indian airspace, appearing over Delhi, and was projected to move through Punjab and Haryana later that night and into Tuesday.
In response, the DGCA released a comprehensive advisory urging airlines to avoid the designated ash‑affected zones and flight levels. Airlines have been instructed to adjust flight plans, routes, altitudes and fuel calculations in line with the latest Volcanic Ash Advisories (VAAs). The directive comes amid reports of rerouted and delayed flights as operators seek to steer clear of the hazardous zone.
Volcanic ash poses a serious risk to aircraft, particularly jet engines, because ash particles can melt inside turbine blades and cause extensive damage. IndiaMetSky Weather explained the situation on X, noting the plume currently contains sulphur dioxide (SO₂) with low to moderate concentrations of volcanic ash. In its post, IndiaMetSky Weather wrote:
> “The Ash plume mostly consists of Sulphur Dioxide with low to moderate concentrations of Volcanic Ash. It’s now stretching from Oman–Arabian Sea region into plains of North & Central India. It will not impact AQI levels but it will impact SO₂ levels at #Hills of #Neb, #Himalayas and adjoining Terai belt of #UttarPradesh as some of the material will bump into the hills and later move into China.”
> “Low chances of Ashfall over plains but some places may see something. NO IMPACT ON AQI LEVEL AT SURFACE LEVEL AT ANY PLACE IS EXPECTED,” the post mentioned.
> “Plume will slowly continue to drift over Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan region. Once again this is at middle levels of the atmosphere so there will not be any impact on the surface apart from some delays & changes in flight routes and some particles might fall to the surface (low chances),” it added.
Meteorologists stress that because the ash cloud remains mainly at mid‑altitudes, it is unlikely to affect ground‑level air quality across most of India. Nonetheless, mountainous areas in Nepal, the Himalayas and the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh may experience elevated sulphur dioxide readings as the plume interacts with higher terrain.
The ash is expected to drift westward and weaken, but officials continue to track its progress closely. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their airlines for any schedule adjustments, as the plume could still cause temporary disruptions until it disperses.
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