the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. The eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia - which was dormant for several thousand years - began on Sunday morning, sending an ash column thousands of feet into the atmosphere. Several flights have been cancelled, delayed or rerouted in India because of the ash, with the country's aviation regulator asking airlines to "strictly avoid" affected areas. The level of ash contamination is unclear, experts said, but it is unlikely to affect Delhi's air quality, which was "very poor" as per official readings on Tuesday.

Volcanic ash is a cloud of tiny, abrasive particles released into the atmosphere during an eruption. It can damage aircraft engines, contaminate airfields and reduce visibility, making it hazardous to flight operations. "The affected altitude is between 8.5km (5.2 miles) and 15km above the sea level," Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of IMD, told the BBC. "It will temporarily affect satellite functions and flight operations. But it is unlikely to affect weather conditions or air quality. It reached northern India last night and seems to be headed towards China," Mr Mohapatra said. According Skymet Weather, a private agency, it is difficult to predict how long the ash will take to disperse, but IMD estimates that Delhi's skies should clear out by Tuesday evening.

Aircraft operations have been disrupted as a result of the ash, with Air India cancelling 11 flights, while carriers such as IndiGo, Akasa Air and KLM also reportedly affected. In a statement on X, IndiGo said it was tracking the situation "in coordination with international aviation bodies". Mumbai Airport has asked passengers to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport. (BBC)