TELANGANA: Tornado-like storm hits Palimela mandal; farmers thrown off fields
HYDERABAD: A rare and violent weather phenomenon created panic in the Godavari basin on Tuesday evening when a sudden whirlwind formed a massive waterspout near Lenkalagadda in Palimela mandal of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. The funnel-shaped column of air and water rose nearly 60 metres into the sky, travelling about five kilometres and leaving a trail of destruction across farmlands and forests.
Eyewitnesses said the storm began with strong swirling winds over the river, forming a funnel that touched the water surface. “It rose high into the air within moments and moved swiftly across the fields,” said a local farmer. Many villagers working nearby were caught off guard.
Farmers caught in the vortex
Farmers Banda Bhaskar, Madhusudhan, Srinivas, Sammakka and Ismail were reportedly trapped in the whirlwind. They were dragged for some distance before managing to cling to trees and save themselves. The group recounted their experience to villagers later that night, prompting an inspection of the affected area on Wednesday.
An ox cart carrying irrigation motors was swept away, though the animals escaped unharmed. Water drums and pipes were flung into the air, while cotton and chilli crops spread across nearly 10 acres were destroyed.
Over 200 trees uprooted
Forest officials said the whirlwind flattened about 200 trees along the Rallavagu stream. In loose soil areas, trees were uprooted entirely, while in firmer patches only branches were broken. Palimela range officer Nagaraju said the funnel moved from Lenkalagadda forest towards Mahamuttaram forests. “Had it moved towards the villages, the damage could have been far worse,” he said.
Officials estimated that the storm damaged cotton spread over 20 acres and chilli across 15 acres. Nagaraju added that a detailed damage report would be sent to senior officers after an on-site inspection on Thursday.
Recurring extreme weather events raise alarm
Experts suspect the devastation may have been caused by a cloudburst or a mini-tornado. Similar incidents have been reported earlier in Mulugu district’s Tadvai mandal and near the Medigadda Barrage, part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, which lies close to the current impact zone.
Residents expressed concern over the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in the Godavari basin and urged the administration to strengthen early-warning systems and improve communication infrastructure in interior forest regions.
