Volcano ash passes over India, impacts aviation but not AQI

The vast windborne cloud of volcanic ash released during Monday's eruption in Ethiopia swept across the Indian landmass on Tuesday, passing over Gujarat, Rajasthan, NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and the northeast before advancing toward China, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

- Jayashree Nandi and Jasjeev Gandhiok

The plume traced an extraordinary high-altitude trajectory across West Asia and India, but its impact on Delhi's already toxic air remained negligible, officials said.

Aviation, however, bore the brunt. As on Monday, several flights were cancelled, delayed or diverted as a precaution, with airlines and aviation authorities responding to fast-changing upper-air conditions.

Carried by strong westerly winds in the upper atmosphere, the plume initially travelled across Yemen, Oman and the Arabian Sea before entering Indian airspace over the country's western coast in Gujarat and Rajasthan around 6.30pm on Monday. By 11pm, its outer edge had reached Delhi at altitudes between 9km and 15km, continuing its rapid eastward sweep through Tuesday.