After causing flight disruptions in India, Ethiopian volcano ash cloud headed to China: Track its course

The plume is drifting northeast at 100–130 km/h, with the core now over Delhi-NCR, Haryana, and adjoining Uttar Pradesh, extending back to Rajasthan and the Arabian Sea.

The long-dormant volcano in northern Ethiopia erupted on Sunday, sending towering ash plumes across the Red Sea towards Yemen, Oman, and even parts of India. The ash plume, travelling with significant speed, moved across large parts of northwest India on Monday night, sweeping over Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR and Punjab, the Hindustan Times reported.

What is an ash cloud?

It is formed when a volcano erupts and sends volcanic materials into the atmosphere. It consists mostly of volcanic ash, which is pulverised rock and glass, and high concentrations of sulphur di-oxideand gravel. When a volcano erupts, hot gases shoot this material upwards, and the particles get carried away by winds.

The eruption sent ash clouds up to 14 km into the sky, affecting Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in France.

In the past, volcanic ash from Iceland reached all the way to mainland Europe.

For aviation, ash clouds are dangerous because they can damage aircraft engines, reduce visibility, and lead to flight delays or rerouting.

Impact on aviation industry

Due to the plume’s high elevation, aviation disruptions are ongoing. DGCA has advised airlines to avoid affected heights and regions and as per reports, airports are checking runways for ash. Airlines including Air India and IndiGo are monitoring the situation.

Air India cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday as they made precautionary checks on aircraft that had flown over a few locations after the eruption.

Akasa scrapped scheduled flights with destinations in the Middle East such as Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.

Also, Mumbai airport has issued a notice for passengers on international routes passing through West Asia.

Will it impact Delhi AQI?

On Tuesday morning, thick smog blanketed areas around India Gate and Kartavya Path, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reading 328, categorised as ‘Very Poor’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

“There is likely to be no significant impact on air quality in Delhi due to the volcanic ash cloud," said Mohapatra told CNN-NEWS18.