The ash plume from Ethiopia’s rare volcanic eruption has now fully passed over India, according to the latest update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). As reported by the Hindustan Times, satellite imagery at 10:30 pm on Tuesday confirmed that the plume had cleared Indian airspace.
Earlier, the IMD had warned that the massive column of volcanic ash had risen to nearly 45,000 feet, disrupting high-altitude aviation routes and triggering multiple flight cancellations.
Ethiopia Volcano Eruption Ash Cloud Exited India; Check Impacts of Flights
Flight operations across the country were significantly affected on Tuesday due to the ash cloud drifting in from the eruption. At least seven international flights were cancelled, and nearly a dozen overseas services were delayed as airlines implemented precautionary safety measures. Several passengers faced long waiting hours, rerouting and extended travel disruptions as carriers struggled with unpredictable atmospheric conditions caused by volcanic ash.
Hayli Gubbi volcano Eruption in Ethiopia
The disruption followed the historic eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region, which erupted on Sunday for the first time in recorded history. Seismologists told Reuters that the volcano sent ash plumes soaring up to 14 km (8.7 miles) into the atmosphere. The ash had travelled across Yemen and Oman before blanketing parts of Pakistan and northern India on Tuesday, according to tracking platform Flightradar24, and was continuing its movement toward China.
Flights Running Status Today on 26 November After Air India Cancels 11 Flights; Akasa Air Cancels Gulf Flights
Air India announced the cancellation of at least 11 domestic and international flights due to the influence of volcanic ash, primarily over northern India. The airline said it has also initiated precautionary inspections on aircraft that had flown through affected regions.
List of Flights Cancelled Date-wise
For November 24, Air India cancelled flights AI 106 (Newark-Delhi), AI 102 (New York-Delhi), AI 2204 (Dubai-Hyderabad), AI 2290 (Doha-Mumbai), AI 2212 (Dubai-Chennai), AI 2250 (Dammam-Mumbai) and AI 2284 (Doha-Delhi).
For November 25, the cancelled flights included AI 2822 (Chennai-Mumbai), AI 2466 (Hyderabad-Delhi), AI 2444/2445 (Mumbai-Hyderabad-Mumbai) and AI 2471/2472 (Mumbai-Kolkata-Mumbai).
Akasa Air also announced widespread cancellations, calling off all flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 24 and 25. The airline cited persistent ash-related safety risks as the reason for suspending its Gulf operations.
Delhi AQI Today, November 26 to 28: Delhi Air Quality to Deteriorate Further
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality is expected to remain in the ‘very poor’ category from November 26 to 28, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System. The outlook for the following week suggests conditions may fluctuate between ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’, raising concerns for residents already facing hazardous pollution levels.
