Udupi: Residents of Nada village in Kundapur experienced a moment of high drama on Wednesday afternoon as a sudden, powerful whirlwind swept through the grounds adjacent to the Primary Health Centre. The localized weather phenomenon, while brief, sent a wave of anxiety through the bustling area before transforming into a spectacle for onlookers.

The vortex emerged around midday at the sliding ground directly across from the Nada Gram Panchayat office. Eyewitnesses described a rapid buildup as the wind began spiraling, eventually lifting a dense column of dust and debris high into the air.

A Spectacle of Dust and Wind

For several minutes, the whirlwind danced across the open ground, scattering waste and obscuring visibility. The intensity of the gust caught local auto-rickshaw drivers and panchayat staff off guard, leading to a momentary scramble for safety. However, as it became clear the phenomenon was localized, panic turned to curiosity.

• Location: Sliding ground, near Primary Health Centre, Nada.
• Time: Wednesday afternoon, Feb 11.
• Impact: Scattered waste, minor panic, no reported injuries or structural damage.

Captured on Camera

As the dust column stabilized, the “mini-twister” became a viral moment. Dozens of locals, including visitors to the health center and shopkeepers, whipped out their smartphones to record the rare sight.

“It was sudden and quite strong,” noted one local driver. “We don’t usually see it with this much force right in the middle of the village.”

A Recurring Phenomenon?

This isn’t the first time the Udupi district has seen such atmospheric activity. Similar whirlwinds—often referred to as “dust devils”—have been documented recently in Karkala, Moodbidri, and the coastal belt of Malpe. Meteorologists often attribute these to rapid surface heating, where hot air near the ground rises quickly through cooler air above, creating a rotating column.

While this whirlwind dissipated as quickly as it arrived, it remains a stark reminder of the unpredictable weather patterns currently brushing through the coastal region.