A dense, toxic shroud of smog blanketed Delhi on Tuesday, with air quality persisting in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ categories, as authorities confirmed a new and unusual complicating factor: volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s recently erupted Hayli Gubbi volcano has now reached Indian airspace.
The long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted for the first time in over 12,000 years on Sunday, sent a massive cloud of ash across the Red Sea and towards South Asia. While the precise impact of this ash on Delhi’s already alarming pollution levels is still being assessed by meteorological agencies, its arrival marks a dramatic, external challenge to a region already grappling with a severe public health crisis.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 7 am stood at 363, categorised as ‘very poor’. This showed little improvement from Monday's reading of 396. Specific monitoring stations painted a grimmer picture, with Anand Vihar recording a ‘severe’ AQI of 402 and the Wazirpur area hitting 400. The ITO area and Punjabi Bagh also registered severe levels of 384 and 391, respectively.
Visuals from across the capital, including the AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital areas where the AQI was 323 and the India Gate monument, showed significantly reduced visibility, with a thick, grey haze obscuring landmarks. The Air Quality Early Warning System forecast predicts air quality will remain in the ‘very poor’ category until at least November 26.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which enforces stricter anti-pollution measures. This stage is triggered when the AQI is in, or threatens to enter, the ‘severe’ range of 401-450.
The deteriorating conditions are having a tangible impact on residents, with many reporting health issues such as watery eyes, asthmatic symptoms, itchy skin and persistent coughing. Medical professionals warn that prolonged exposure can lead to more severe conditions, including intense wheezing, significant chest tightness and severe shortness of breath.
The situation has also sparked public unrest. Delhi Police reported that 22 people were arrested following a protest at India Gate on Sunday against rising air pollution. The police stated that the protesters were charged with allegedly blocking a road, obstructing officers and using pepper spray on personnel. Two separate First Information Reports have been registered in connection with the incident at the Kartavya Path and Sansad Marg police stations.
As the city contends with its annual pollution nightmare, compounded by cooler temperatures - with the India Meteorological Department forecasting minimums of 8-10 degrees Celsius — the intrusion of volcanic ash from a continent away adds a layer of geopolitical and environmental complexity to Delhi’s fight for clean air. The full consequences of this distant eruption on the capital's respiratory health remain an unsettling unknown.
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