For the first time in 10,000 years, Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano has erupted, sending plumes of thick ashes across the Middle East and Central Asia. Several flights were cancelled, diverted or delayed across various countries in the region.
Located in Ethiopia's Afar region, the volcano is located in the Rift Valley, where two tectonic plates meet. After the eruption, the ash plumes, which shot up to 14 km into the sky, crossed the Red Sea as it moved towards Yemen, Oman and Pakistan.
How will Hayli Gubbi volcanic ash impact India?
The plumes of volcanic ashes from Hayli Gubbi is predicted to arrived in Gujarat in the coming hours. From there, it is expected to cover Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Current estimates show that the ash plumes could reach Nepal, Bhutan and Northeast India.
The eruption was reportedly accompanied by emissions of sulfur dioxide, which has sparked worries about environmental and health impacts. Though the eruption seems to have subsided, there are concerns about secondary explosions.
IndiGo has already cancelled six flights. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory, warning airlines and operators about potential safety risk to aircraft in the region. It asked them to report immediately in case of suspected encounter with volcanic ash.
“If volcanic ash affects an airport of operation, the operators may advise immediate inspection of runways, taxiways, and aprons to be conducted. Airport operations may be restricted or suspended based on contamination and cleaning procedures must be completed before resuming movements,” the advisory said.
It also directed to make changes to flight planning, routing and fuel requirements based on the advisories. Airline operators were instructed to monitor ash clouds 24x7 using satellite imagery, meteorological data and Volcanic Ash Advisory bulletins.
"You are requested to disseminate this information to all relevant operational departments and ensure strict compliance until further notice," the civil aviation regulator added.