A sleeping giant in Ethiopia has awoken. The Hayli Gubbi volcano, dormant for an astonishing 12,000 years, has violently erupted, catapulting the region into a state of high alert and sending consequences rippling across the Indian Ocean.
An Eruption of Historic Proportions
The eruption of Hayli Gubbi is an event of geological significance. After millennia of silence, the volcano expelled colossal, thick plumes of smoke and volcanic ash high into the atmosphere. Satellite data and monitoring agencies confirm that the ash cloud reached an incredible altitude of up to 14 kilometres into the sky.
This massive injection of particulate matter into the upper atmosphere has created a moving weather system of its own. The plume is currently travelling at a formidable speed of 100-120 kilometres per hour, with its trajectory set towards North India.
Implications for India and Air Travel
The advancing ash cloud poses a significant threat to aviation safety over Northern India. Volcanic ash is composed of fine, abrasive rock and glass particles that can severely damage aircraft engines, clog sensors, and reduce visibility.
In response to this imminent hazard, flight services have already been impacted. Major Indian carriers, including Air India, Indigo, and Akasa Air, are facing operational challenges. The potential for widespread flight cancellations and delays is high as aviation authorities closely monitor the ash cloud's movement to ensure passenger safety.
What Happens Next?
The situation remains fluid. Meteorological departments in India are tracking the ash plume's progress around the clock. The primary concerns are the density of the ash as it approaches Indian airspace and how long the volcanic activity in Ethiopia will persist.
Authorities have advised travellers, especially those with flights to or from North Indian cities, to stay in close contact with their airlines for real-time updates. While the spectacle of a volcano erupting after 12,000 years is a remote event, its effects are proving to be profoundly global in our interconnected world.
