A cyclone-like storm hit Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu on Sunday with “strong updrafts”. While images claiming a cyclone over Thoothukudi were circulated on social media, the Meteorological Department denied the claim.
Video of the tornado-like storm showed a column of wind swirling as clouds covered the sky.
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While sharing the video, private meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya said on Channel X: “Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu reported a cyclone today. A very rare sight from Tamil Nadu. Could it be the first from the state?”
The Meteorological Department clarified the occurrence of the rare weather saying it was not a cyclone and reported severe weather due to the presence of an east-west depression extending about 3.1 km above sea level across southern Tamil Nadu, HT reported earlier.
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“The associated convective activity generated locally strong winds, raising dust, and ‘strong updrafts’ near the Thoothukudi airport area,” Chennai Regional Weather Forecasting Center Director V R Durai said.
“The observed funnel-like feature was likely related to the strong updraft beneath a cumulonimbus cloud, raising dust and creating a rotating or vertically expanding column of air,” he said, adding that it was most likely “a localized convective vortex, dust vortex, or passing funnel cloud.”
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High winds on Sunday caused widespread damage and injured six people after temporary metal roofing sheets installed for airport expansion work were blown away, landing on workers and members of the public.
The accident occurred near Vagaikulam district, where strong winds suddenly blew, news agency ANI reported. The pictures showed the extent of the destruction and damage caused by the strong winds, as tin sheets, broken tree branches, and parts of concrete were scattered on the ground. The glass windows of some vehicles were also shattered by the wind.
The roofs of temporary tin structures meant for the ongoing expansion work at Thoothukudi airport were not able to withstand the force of the wind and were torn off, flying through the air before hitting workers and passers-by in the nearby Pitdown area.
