IMD Says Ethiopia Volcano Ash Cloud Will Clear India by Evening
IMD
IMD reports that the ash cloud drifting from the Ethiopia volcano eruption will move out of Indian skies by around 7:30 pm, with minimal impact on weather or air quality.
New Delhi — November 25, 2025- The India Meteorological Department has issued an important update after a massive ash cloud from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano drifted across parts of India. IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the cloud is expected to leave Indian skies by about 7:30 in the evening, as high-altitude winds push it further east toward China. The eruption, which sent ash up to nearly 14 kilometers into the atmosphere, created a plume that travelled across the Arabian Sea before reaching western and northern India earlier in the day.
The ash cloud has passed over states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and the Delhi region. IMD said the plume is at very high altitude and is unlikely to affect surface air quality. While some regions recorded a slightly hazier sky and diffused sunlight, officials clarified that local pollution levels have not been influenced by the volcanic particles. Cities such as Delhi continue to experience their usual winter smog, which is unrelated to the volcanic drift.
Aviation authorities have been on alert since morning. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation advised airlines to avoid specific flight levels where ash concentration is possible. Some flights were diverted or forced to modify their routes as a precaution. A few international and domestic services also faced delays due to altered air corridors. Airlines are expected to return to normal routes once the plume moves further away later in the evening.
IMD scientists have said the cloud contains fine volcanic dust and sulphur dioxide, but most of it is confined to upper layers of the atmosphere. This reduces any chance of respiratory discomfort or harmful exposure for people on the ground. The agency also explained that volcanic ash at such heights can scatter sunlight and sometimes create unusually colorful sunsets, which some parts of northern India may observe briefly.
The ash came from a rare and powerful eruption in Ethiopia’s Afar region, an area known for tectonic activity but not for frequent large-scale events. Satellite images earlier showed the plume spreading rapidly due to strong jet stream winds. Weather models tracked its movement toward India through the day, and projections now show it slowly veering toward East Asia.
For travellers, the key recommendation is to stay alert for airline notifications. Most disruptions are expected to ease by night as the cloud exits Indian airspace. For the general public, there is no advisory to stay indoors or take precautions, since the ash is not settling at ground level in any significant way.
IMD will continue to monitor the plume until it fully clears the region. Officials emphasised that this is a short-term event and not something that will influence India’s weather patterns or pollution conditions in the coming days. With the cloud expected to move out by tonight, normal sky conditions should return across affected states soon after.
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