Are you coughing and sneezing? Amid India’s ongoing fight with worsening AQI and smog during the winter, the passing of the ash clouds from volcanic activity in Ethiopia can make it worse. While it moved away from India by 7.30 pm on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, everything has become hazy. It was a day after ash plumes from the recent eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano impacted flight operations in India on November 24.

Dr Harish Chafle, senior consultant chest physician and bronchoscopist at Gleneagles Hospitals explains the phenomenon, “A passing ash cloud may irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, causing burning, redness, or dryness. Fine ash particles can enter the lungs and trigger coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing, especially in people with asthma. Some may experience headaches or mild nausea due to reduced air quality.”