 "Delhi air gets more toxic from Ethiopia volcano ash. How harmful can it be?")
A volcanic eruption in northern Ethiopia on Sunday (November 23) has led to health scares in parts of India. The long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in the Afar region of Ethiopia erupted over the weekend, sending ash plumes up to 14 km high.
The volcanic ash crossed the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman and then travelled to parts of Pakistan and northern India. The ash cloud is moving towards China and is expected to leave Indian skies by 1400 GMT (7:30 PM IST) Tuesday (November 25).
The ash cloud entered India late on Monday, raising fears of its impact on human health and air quality. India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), also issued an advisory yesterday to all airlines to avoid areas affected by the volcanic ash.
We take a closer look.
What is volcanic ash?
Volcanic ash consists of pieces of broken rock, minerals and volcanic glass. It is “hard, abrasive, and does not dissolve in water,” as per National Geographic.
Wind can disperse particles of volcanic ash even thousands of kilometres away from the eruption site.
According to IndiaMetSky Weather, the ash from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia is made up of sulphur dioxide, glass and fine rock particles.
The ash cloud is moving at speeds of up to 100-120 km/h over North India at altitudes between 15,000-45,000 feet.
Meteorological agencies reported that the ash cloud entered India via western Gujarat and then crossed into Rajasthan, north-west Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab by late Monday.
Quick Reads
View AllHow volcanic eruptions impact health
When a volcano erupts, it can release dangerous particles like volcanic gases and ash into the air.
Carbon dioxide and fluorine, which are toxic to human health, can collect in volcanic ash.
Other volcanic gases that can impact health are sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide, radon, hydrogen fluoride and sulfuric acid.
Inhaling these gases, many of which are odourless or invisible, can be harmful. As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breathing these volcanic gases can cause symptoms, such as irritation of the eyes, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, breathing issues and even death.
Longer exposure to volcanic gases and ash could damage the lungs. Breathing large amounts of ash and volcanic gases could lead to suffocation, which is the most common cause of death from a volcano, as per National Geographic.
Abrasive particles in the ash can lead to skin irritation and inflammation.
Severe exposures to some volcanic gases can make a person unconscious within minutes and eventually cause death.
Asthma patients, children and people with chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions are highly vulnerable to volcanic gases and ash.
Experts have warned that as the volcanic ash passes over Delhi’s skies, it could further deteriorate the city’s already toxic air.
“The volcanic ash consists of dust, silica, rocky material, and other minerals and can be hazardous to health. Volcanic ash while passing over the air shed over Delhi may lead to a sudden spike in pollution levels, worsening the air quality further,” Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst of think tank EnviroCatalysts, was quoted as saying by Times of India (TOI).
How volcanic ash affects flights
Volcanic ash is dangerous to moving aircraft, even causing failure. The abrasive particles of rock and glass can damage parts of the aircraft’s fuselage and cause sensor failures.
The DGCA on Monday directed all Indian airlines to adjust flight planning, routing, and fuel considerations as well as immediately report any suspected ash encounter, “including engine performance anomalies or cabin smoke/odour”.
India’s aviation regulator asked airlines to carry out post-flight engine and airframe inspections for flights operating near the affected areas.
“If volcanic ash affects an airport, the operators (airlines) may advise immediate inspection of runways, taxiways, and aprons to be conducted,” the DGCA advisory read. It added that airport operations “may be restricted or suspended” based on contamination, and cleaning procedures must be completed before resuming operations.
Air India and Akasa Air on Tuesday said they were cancelling some flights after ash plumes from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia.
#ImportantAdvisory
— Air India (@airindia) November 25, 2025
The following Air India flights have been cancelled as we carry out precautionary checks on those aircraft which had flown over certain geographical locations after the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption.
Our ground teams across the network are keeping passengers…
Air India said it had cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday to make precautionary checks on aircraft that had flown over some volcanic ash-affected areas. Akasa Air said it cancelled scheduled flights to West Asia destinations, including those to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.
With inputs from agencies
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