Ash from the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia has reached India, prompting flight cancellations and raising concerns over air quality in northern regions. Airlines like Akasa Air have halted Gulf routes due to unsafe conditions, while the IMD forecasts the cloud clearing by evening. Delhi's AQI remains very poor at 435, though experts predict minimal additional impact from the ash.
The Hayli Gubbi shield volcano in Ethiopia's Afar region erupted on November 23, 2025, for the first time in over 12,000 years, sending an ash plume rising to 14 km (45,000 feet). High-level winds carried the cloud eastward across the Red Sea, Yemen, Oman, and the Arabian Sea, reaching western and northern India by November 24.
Forecast models from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated ash influence over Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Haryana on November 25. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that the ash clouds are drifting towards China and will move away from Indian skies by 7:30 p.m. on November 25. The IMD monitored satellite imagery, Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAACs), and dispersion models, issuing Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) warnings from Met Watch Offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata. These advisories directed pilots to avoid affected airspace, leading to rerouting, longer flight times, and holding patterns.
Akasa Air cancelled flights to Gulf destinations due to unsafe flying conditions from the ash. IndiGo and Akasa Air assured passengers of safety measures, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai also released a passenger advisory. In Delhi-NCR, air quality concerns mounted amid the 'very poor' AQI of 435 at 7:30 a.m. on November 25, with PM2.5 at 294 μg/m³ and PM10 at 396 μg/m³—far exceeding WHO limits of 15 μg/m³ and 45 μg/m³, respectively. NCR areas reported similar levels: Noida 456, Greater Noida 455, Ghaziabad 454, Faridabad 444, and Gurugram 404. Experts predict minimal effects on AQI from the ash, though the Commission for Air Quality Management imposed Graded Response Action Plan Stage-III (GRAP-3) for AQI in the 401-450 range. Symptoms like watery eyes and coughing have increased, with flight disruptions ongoing.