Volcanic Ash Cloud to Clear India by 7:30 p.m. Today, Says IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Tuesday that the volcanic ash cloud drifting over parts of India is expected to move away by 7:30 p.m., shifting toward China later in the evening.

The ash plume, which disrupted several flights on Monday and Tuesday, had triggered concerns about air quality and aviation safety across northern and western India.

The plume originated from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted after 12,000 years of dormancy, sending an ash column nearly 14 km into the atmosphere. High-altitude winds carried the cloud across the Red Sea, Yemen, Oman, and the Arabian Sea before it reached the Indian subcontinent.

According to the IMD, on Tuesday the ash cloud drifted over Gujarat, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. Although the plume has remained mostly in the middle layers of the atmosphere, it has caused temporary flight disruptions and prompted aviation advisories.

Weather platform IndiaMetSky explained that the plume consists mainly of sulphur dioxide (SO?) with low to moderate volcanic ash content.

“The ash plume mostly consists of Sulphur Dioxide with low to moderate concentrations of Volcanic Ash… It will not impact AQI levels but it will impact SO? levels at the hills of Nepal, the Himalayas and adjoining Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh,” the platform said in a post on X, noting that the plume would eventually move toward China.

While chances of ashfall over the plains remain minimal, authorities warned that isolated particles could settle in some regions. Flight delays and route adjustments also remain possible until the plume fully clears.

With IMD’s latest update indicating the ash will move away by 7:30 p.m., concerns across northern and western India are expected to ease. Aviation authorities continue to monitor conditions closely, and residents in affected areas have been advised to stay alert to official updates.

--With inputs from IANS