The Hayli Gubbi volcano in northern Ethiopia, dormant for millennia, erupted over the weekend, causing widespread disruption and damage. The volcanic activity, which subsided by Tuesday, left nearby villages in the Afdera district of the Afar region blanketed in ash. Residents reported persistent coughing, while livestock struggled to find clean water and grass due to the ash cover. The eruption also led to significant flight cancellations as ash plumes disrupted high-altitude flight paths. Airlines, including India’s Air India and Akasa Air, canceled dozens of flights, particularly those bound for Middle Eastern destinations like Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi. At least seven international flights at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were canceled, with numerous others delayed. Mobile medical teams were dispatched to affected areas to address health concerns, while livestock officials reported severe challenges for animals in accessing clean water and food. Geologists noted that the eruption, the first in 10,000 years, is linked to Ethiopia’s location along an active rift system. The ash cloud, carried by high-altitude winds, is expected to clear Indian skies by 1400 GMT on Tuesday.