Puri: A spectacular rare natural phenomenon unfolded on Monday afternoon as a towering waterspout, resembling an elephant’s trunk, formed over the Bay of Bengal near Astaranga in Odisha’s Puri district.
No damage was reported during this particular event, which quickly became a topic of awe and discussion.
According to eyewitnesses, dark clouds gathered rapidly over the sea, giving way to a dramatic funnel-shaped column that stretched from the sky down to the water’s surface. The swirling
vortex, locally evocative of a “Haathisundh” (elephant’s trunk), captivated locals and tourists alike, many of whom captured the breathtaking yet powerful phenomenon on their phones.
Unlike tornadoes that develop over land, waterspouts are rotating columns of air and mist that form over bodies of water. They are more common in tropical and subtropical regions and have been spotted occasionally along Odisha’s and West Bengal’s coasts in recent years. These are typically seen during the pre-monsoon season when atmospheric conditions lead to violent winds and storm formation.
Describing the weather event, climate expert Biswajit Sahu said: “The upper part of the funnel measured about 2-3 km in radius, while the narrower lower section was roughly 50 metres wide. Wind speeds within such systems can reach 130–140 kmph, but it is difficult to predict their formation in advance.”