A dramatic funnel-shaped weather phenomenon swept through parts of Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district on Sunday evening, damaging homes, infrastructure and a private theme park, while sparking widespread speculation on social media about a possible tornado.
Videos recorded near the Thoothukudi airport area showed a towering column of dust and debris spiralling into the sky as powerful winds moved across the landscape. The rare sight prompted many residents to describe the event as a tornado.
Villages Bear The Brunt Of Violent Winds
The worst-hit areas were Vagaikulam and Mudivaithanendal villages along the Thoothukudi-Tirunelveli highway, around 20 kilometres from Thoothukudi city.
Residents said strong winds uprooted trees, snapped electricity poles, tore away roof sheets and damaged household belongings in a residential cluster of nearly 200 homes. Debris, including roofing materials and household items, was reportedly lifted into the air and scattered across large distances.
Two people sustained minor injuries, but no fatalities were reported despite the intensity of the storm.
Toll Plaza And Theme Park Suffer Heavy Damage
The powerful winds also caused extensive damage to a private theme park near the Vagaikulam toll plaza, destroying several amusement installations.
At the toll plaza, glass panels, computer systems and other equipment were damaged, forcing authorities to temporarily allow vehicles to pass without collecting toll fees.
Residents estimated losses worth several crores. Preliminary assessments suggested damage of around Rs 2 crore in the affected residential areas alone, while total losses, including damage to the theme park and toll plaza, could reach Rs 5 crore to Rs 6 crore.
One particularly dramatic account involved a group of nine youngsters playing cricket in an open ground. Locals claimed the winds were so strong that the players had to cling to one another and sit on the ground to avoid being swept away.
Meteorologists Clarify It Was Not A Tornado
Despite the tornado-like appearance, meteorologists said the phenomenon was not an actual tornado.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, strong thunderstorms developed over southern Tamil Nadu due to an east-west trough positioned about 3.1 kilometres above mean sea level. The system generated powerful updrafts and localised high-speed winds that lifted dust and debris into the atmosphere.
Weather experts said the event was associated with a severe cumulonimbus cloud system and thunderstorm activity rather than a true tornado, though its visual appearance closely resembled one.