Tornado-Like Windstorm Causes Damage in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi
A powerful storm hit parts of Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district on Sunday evening, causing extensive damage to houses, roadside shops, toll booths and a private theme park. However, weather observers announced that the event was not a hurricane, but a severe storm associated with a cumulonimbus cloud system.
Videos recorded by residents near Thoothukudi Airport show dust, debris and other objects being quickly lifted into the air in a swirling column resembling a tornado. The rotating funnel-shaped wind system carried objects above the ground, prompting social media users to describe it as Tamil Nadu’s first cyclone.
The storm hit areas near Thoothukudi Airport and along the Thoothukudi-Tirunelveli highway, particularly affecting Vagaikulam and Mudivaithanendal villages.
Many weather enthusiasts, including the popular Tamil Nadu Meteorologist, shared footage of the event. Meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya also stated that the videos showed the funnel cloud making contact with the ground, a key feature of the hurricane.
Neighborhood residents reported that strong winds uprooted trees, broke electric poles, ripped off roof coverings and damaged houses. In one residential area, nearly 200 houses suffered varying degrees of damage. Debris, including roofing materials and household items, was transported significant distances.
