New Delhi [India], November 25 (ANI): Seven international flights scheduled between 1 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday were canceled after volcanic ash affected airspace conditions, according to sources. Twelve other international flights during the same period were delayed as airlines adjusted operations in response to ash-related disruptions.
Both incoming and outgoing services were affected, with carriers modifying flight movements based on ongoing safety assessments.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), ash clouds from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia were expected to clear India’s skies by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, marking the likely end of disturbances reported across parts of the country. The plume, which crossed northwest India on Monday and briefly disrupted flights, has since begun shifting toward China.
The ash mass initially entered Gujarat on Monday before spreading overnight across Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, and Punjab.
The eruption originated from Hayli Gubbi, a shield volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region, which produced its first major activity in nearly 10,000 years and sent ash rising up to 14 kilometers.
The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) reported that the explosive phase began around 8:30 a.m. GMT, generating “a large ash plume moving toward northern India,” even after the eruption began to ease. Ash columns from the Afar region—located about 800 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border—were carried across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman by strong upper-level winds, eventually drifting over the Arabian Sea into western and northern India.
The IMD said the plume traveled along high-altitude wind currents, moving “from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman and further over the Arabian Sea toward western and northern India.” Monitoring was supported by satellite tools, VAAC bulletins, and dispersion modeling.
A layer of haze settled over Delhi as the plume passed, pushing air quality into the “very poor” category and prompting concern among residents and authorities.
IMD’s Met Watch Offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata issued ICAO-standard SIGMET warnings advising airports to avoid specific airspace segments and flight levels identified by VAAC.
As the ash cloud advanced, flight operations across several regions came under strain, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to circulate a detailed advisory on Monday. Airlines such as IndiGo, Akasa Air, and KLM revised their schedules while officials continued monitoring the plume’s movement. (ANI)
About The Author
