Ethiopia Volcanic ash cleared India; Delhi faces no threat.
Ethiopia volcano eruption Ash plume has exited India threat to Delhi’s air quality has passed.
Ash clouds briefly reached India, raising concern before clearing.
Ash from Ethiopia’s volcano reached parts of India, raising concern as skies dimmed and people worried about health impacts.
A cloud of volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption made an unexpected and unsettling journey across continents, briefly darkening parts of India’s skies and raising questions about public safety, air travel, and weather conditions. The unusual event began late on Monday, 24 November, when satellite readings and atmospheric models detected ash drifting westward towards India. By Tuesday, people in states like Gujarat, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana woke up to hazier skies and wondered whether something far away in East Africa could really be affecting their daily lives.
The eruption itself was extraordinary. The Hayli Gubbi volcano, situated in Ethiopia’s Afar region—about 800 kilometres northeast of Addis Ababa and close to the Eritrean border—had been dormant for nearly 12,000 years. When it suddenly came alive on Sunday, 23 November, scientists across the world were taken by surprise. Unlike many dramatic eruptions, this one did not produce flowing lava. Instead, it released a massive column of thick ash and smoke, rising nearly 14 kilometres into the sky. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), which monitors global volcanic hazards, confirmed the height of the plume and continued to track its movement.
Videos shared online—though not immediately verified—showed a towering column of white and grey ash rising above the rugged Afar landscape. The scenes felt surreal to many viewers: a long-silent volcano awakening, its plume carried by winds thousands of kilometres away, affecting countries far beyond Ethiopia.
As the ash drifted into Indian airspace late Monday night, meteorologists and aviation authorities moved quickly. Though the ash did not descend to ground level in most regions, its presence in the upper atmosphere posed risks. For the general public, it mainly caused worry, since volcanic ash can worsen air quality and disrupt weather patterns if it reaches lower altitudes. For airlines, however, the threat was more concrete. Volcanic ash is dangerous for aircraft engines, and even small concentrations can cause severe damage.
By Tuesday, dozens of flights were cancelled or rerouted. Air India, acting promptly on directives from India’s aviation safety regulator, grounded 11 flights—mostly international routes—to inspect aircraft that might have unknowingly crossed the affected corridor. Several other carriers also altered routes to ensure safety. Passengers found themselves facing delays, but many expressed relief that precautions were being taken.
Throughout the day, people across North India kept searching for updates, trying to understand whether the ash posed any real danger to their health. Social media filled with questions, speculation, and a fair amount of confusion. This made the India Meteorological Department’s update on Tuesday night especially important. According to a report quoted by the Hindustan Times, IMD confirmed that by 10:30 pm, satellite imagery showed the ash plume had completely exited India’s airspace. The winds had shifted, pushing the remaining plume away from the subcontinent.
The news brought a collective sigh of relief. For most Indians, this unusual event became a reminder of how interconnected the planet truly is. A geological tremor in a remote part of Ethiopia had sent shockwaves—literally and figuratively—thousands of kilometres away. Yet it also demonstrated the value of scientific monitoring, quick communication, and coordinated response. What could have turned into a larger crisis instead became a passing moment of global awareness, handled calmly and effectively.