India, Nov. 24 -- A thick cloud of ash - a result of a volcanic eruption for the first time in thousands of years at Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano - is expected to impact northwest India on Monday night, with the ash plumes expected to enter Gujarat and move towards Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR and Punjab in the next few hours, meteorological experts said. Aircraft operations in and around Indian airspace are also beginning to be impacted as the ash moves towards the region, with further disruptions likely in the next few hours, officials aware of the matter said.

The plumes - consisting of volcanic ash, sulphur dioxide and even small particles of rock - are at heights of around 10-15 kms above the surface, the India Meteorological Department (...