Saturday, March 29, 2025
Alert: Massive Volcanic Ash Cloud Reaches India, Multiple Flights Cancelled
A huge cloud of volcanic ash from Ethiopia has reached India, causing significant disruption to flight operations. Officials have confirmed that the ash plume, moving at a speed of around 100–120 km per hour, entered India through Gujarat and reached Delhi around 11 PM on Monday night. The cloud is now drifting toward Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR, and Punjab, prompting authorities to cancel several flights along its path.
Authorities monitoring the situation said the ash has already begun affecting aircraft operations in and around Indian airspace, and conditions may worsen in the coming hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning, explaining that the plume—made up of volcanic ash, sulfur dioxide, and even small rock particles—is hovering between 10 and 15 kilometers above the surface. As a result, major disruptions to air travel are expected.
The volcano, known as Hele Gubi in Ethiopia’s East African region, erupted for the first time in more than 10,000 years. Satellite imagery has confirmed the event. Following the eruption, a dense ash cloud moved across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman and has now spread over the northern Arabian Sea. As the ash progressed toward the Middle East and Central Asia, airlines began canceling flights from Monday afternoon onward.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed airlines to strictly avoid ash-affected regions and revise flight planning, routing, and fuel usage based on updated advisories. Airlines have also been told to immediately report any suspected ash encounters, including issues related to engine performance, cabin smoke, or unusual odors.
Flights from India to West Asia are already being impacted. A SpiceJet spokesperson confirmed that several Dubai-bound flights have been affected. IndiGo has also informed passengers via social media that it is closely monitoring the situation. Mumbai Airport has issued a passenger advisory, urging travelers to stay in touch with their respective airlines. Two flights from Kochi—one to Dubai and one to Jeddah—have been cancelled. An official from Mumbai Airport added that some flights are being rerouted through Pakistan’s airspace, but since Pakistani airspace remains closed to Indian carriers, Indian airlines are expected to face greater disruption.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told the Hindustan Times, “It will start affecting more parts of Gujarat and Delhi-NCR in the next few hours. It is already near Gujarat, and soon we will see its impact over Delhi-NCR and neighboring regions of North India.”
He added, “Since the plume is at a high altitude, we do not expect major effects at the surface level. We may see hazy or cloudy skies, and the impact will last for a few hours as it moves eastward.” According to him, some cities experiencing slight warming may notice minor temperature increases. Whether the ash will affect air quality remains unclear, but significant deterioration is not expected due to the high altitude of the plume.
