Bhubaneswar: A rare tornado-like formation was spotted over Chilika Lake in Odisha on Friday, triggering panic among tourists and local fishermen.
The phenomenon, also known as a waterspout, was visible near Kalijai in Krushnaprasad block following rainfall in the area.
According to reports, the tornado formed in the middle of the lake, far from the shore, and gradually dissipated without causing any damage. There have been no reports of casualties or property loss.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as ‘terrifying,’ as the funnel-shaped cloud hovered over the water. Several tourists at the Kalijai Temple captured the rare event on their mobile phones, while local fishermen expressed shock at witnessing such an occurrence for the first time.
Speaking to a regional television channel, Odisha meteorologist Biswajit Sahoo confirmed that the formation was technically a waterspout—a type of tornado that occurs over large water bodies.
“Waterspouts are typically seen in the seas around the US and Canada. Their occurrence in India is rare, though a few have been reported in recent years along the Bay of Bengal, particularly in West Bengal. In Odisha, such events are extremely infrequent,” Sahoo said.
Explaining the meteorological background, he added that waterspouts form when warm, moist air rises and meets cold, dry air above, creating powerful thunderstorms. Wind shear—or a shift in wind direction and speed with height—causes the updraft to rotate, forming a vortex.
“In local Odia terminology, such a weather phenomenon is often called ‘Khandia Bhuta,’” Sahoo noted.
