Live Update – November 27, 2025, 11:30 AM IST
Delhi-NCR AQI has touched 488 in several areas (Wazirpur, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh) as a rare volcanic ash cloud from Ethiopia combines with the city’s winter smog layer.
How a 12,000-Year-Old Volcano in Africa Reached Delhi in 48 Hours
On November 23, 2025, Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted for the first time in recorded history. The explosion sent ash and sulphur dioxide 14 km into the sky. Strong upper-level winds carried the plume across the Arabian Sea at speeds over 120 km/h.
By the evening of November 25, satellite images showed the greyish-white volcanic cloud entering Gujarat and Rajasthan. Within hours it spread over Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi-NCR, turning the sky unusually hazy even at 40,000–50,000 feet altitude.
Delhi’s Double Crisis: Local Smog + Volcanic Dust
Delhi was already under Stage-III GRAP restrictions because of farm stubble burning and low wind speed. The arrival of the volcanic plume added a new layer of fine particulate matter and sulphur compounds.
Residents reported:
- Sharp eye irritation and throat burning (worse than previous days)
- Unusual grey tint in the sky despite calm surface winds
- Sudden spike in PM2.5 readings after 6 PM on November 26
CPCB stations recorded AQI jumping from 378 (very poor) to 488 (severe) within hours in north and east Delhi.
Flight Chaos Across North India
Dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed on November 26–27 as a precaution against volcanic ash damaging jet engines:
- IndiGo: 28 domestic + 6 Gulf flights grounded
- Air India: 19 flights cancelled, including Delhi–Dubai & Delhi–Jeddah
- SpiceJet & Akasa Air: Multiple domestic sectors affected
- Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Jaipur airports issued NOTAMs
DGCA confirmed most routes resumed normal operations by 8 PM November 26 once the ash cloud moved northeast toward the Himalayas.
Health Alert: What Delhiites Should Do Right Now
- Stay indoors, keep windows sealed
- Use N95/N99 masks if stepping out
- Run air purifiers on high
- Avoid morning walks and outdoor exercise
- Children, elderly, and asthma patients at highest risk
Doctors at AIIMS and Safdarjung reported a 30–40% surge in respiratory emergency cases since yesterday evening.
Fact-Check Table: Volcano vs Local Pollution
| Claim | Reality |
|---|---|
| Volcanic ash is falling on Delhi streets | False – plume stayed in upper atmosphere |
| Volcano is the main reason for AQI 488 | Partially true – it worsened an already bad situation |
| All flights in India grounded | False – only select northern routes affected |
| Acid rain expected in Delhi | Possible in Himalayan foothills, not confirmed for Delhi |
| Pollution will clear by tomorrow | Unlikely – calm winds continue till Nov 29 |
What Happens Next?
IMD forecasts the volcanic cloud will fully exit Indian airspace by November 28 morning. However, surface-level pollution from stubble burning and vehicular emissions will keep Delhi in the “severe” category for at least three more days.
The Ethiopia eruption serves as a stark reminder: in a connected atmosphere, a volcano on the other side of the planet can make a bad pollution day even deadlier.
Stay safe, Delhi. Keep checking live AQI and avoid unnecessary exposure.
Last updated: November 27, 2025, 11:30 AM IST