Tornado-Like Windstorm Causes Damage in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi
Residents reported that powerful winds uprooted trees, snapped electricity poles, ripped off roof sheets and damaged homes
A powerful windstorm struck parts of Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district on Sunday evening, causing extensive damage to houses, roadside shops, a toll plaza, and a private theme park. However, weather observers clarified that the phenomenon was not a tornado but a severe thunderstorm associated with a cumulonimbus cloud system.
Videos recorded by residents near the Thoothukudi Airport area showed dust, debris, and other objects being lifted rapidly into the air in a rotating column resembling a tornado. The swirling funnel-shaped wind system carried objects high above the ground, prompting social media users to describe it as Tamil Nadu’s first tornado.
The storm struck areas near Thoothukudi Airport and along the Thoothukudi–Tirunelveli highway, particularly affecting the villages of Vagaikulam and Mudivaithanendal.
Several weather enthusiasts, including the popular Tamil Nadu Weatherman, shared footage of the event. Meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya also noted that the videos appeared to show a funnel cloud making contact with the ground, a key characteristic of a tornado.
Residents reported that powerful winds uprooted trees, snapped electricity poles, ripped off roof sheets and damaged homes. Nearly 200 houses in a residential area suffered varying degrees of damage. Debris, including roofing materials and household items, was carried considerable distances.
