Natural Hazards & Disruptions: Volcanic Ash from Ethiopia Temporarily Impacts Indian Skies

The recent eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia triggered a significant but short-lived environmental ripple effect across regions far beyond East Africa. According to reports, volcanic ash clouds drifted along upper-air wind patterns and briefly spread across key international air routes, leading to disruptions and rerouting of several flights operating over the Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian airspace. Aviation authorities closely monitored the situation, as ash particles can severely damage aircraft engines, affect visibility, and pose operational risks.

In India, while the overall impact remained limited, the event raised temporary concerns about upper-atmospheric air quality, especially over coastal regions. Although ground-level pollution was unaffected, meteorologists noted a grey haze in satellite readings, prompting precautionary advisories for aviation crews and air-traffic management. As the ash cloud gradually dispersed and moved away from Indian airspace, authorities affirmed that the episode posed no long-term environmental risk.

The incident highlights a crucial aspect of transboundary natural hazards — even geographically distant events can influence air travel, public health planning, and atmospheric conditions in India. Volcanic ash, like wildfire smoke or dust storms, spreads globally due to jet streams and requires real-time monitoring through satellite imagery, dispersion models, and international meteorological cooperation.

From a governance and disaster-management perspective, the episode underscores the need for robust early-warning systems, enhanced inter-agency coordination, and resilient aviation protocols aligned with global standards. For India, strengthening linkages between IMD, DGCA, ISRO, and international volcanic ash advisory centres (VAACs) becomes increasingly important as climate variability intensifies such cross-border environmental phenomena.