Moving at 100-120km/h: Flight operations hit as Ethiopian volcanic ash reaches Delhi
PTC News Desk: A plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano reached Delhi around 11 pm on Monday. Forecasters had been tracking the cloud for a day as it moved across the Red Sea and headed toward northwest India at nearly 130 kmph.
Flight operation have been majorly hit while Indian airports and airlines were warned to prepare for possible disruptions caused by a volcanic ash plume drifting from Ethiopia. The ash cloud is now moving across northern India.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted on Sunday for the first time in almost 12,000 years, sending large ash plumes over the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman, and further toward the northern Arabian Sea.
Thicker parts of the ash cloud are now passing over Delhi, Haryana and nearby areas of Uttar Pradesh. Experts say this could worsen air quality, but the chances are low because the ash is still high up in the atmosphere. Due to the ash threat, airlines like Akasa Air, IndiGo and KLM cancelled some flights.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has told airlines to avoid regions with volcanic ash and adjust flight routes, plans and fuel needs based on the latest updates. Airlines must also report immediately if they suspect any ash-related issues, such as unusual engine behaviour or smoke or smell inside the cabin.
If ash affects airport operations, airport authorities must inspect runways, taxiways and parking areas right away, the DGCA said.
Operators have also been instructed to keep a close watch on the ash cloud using satellite images and weather data.
- With inputs from agencies
