Overview
- A spinning funnel formed over the sea off Astaranga in Puri district of Odisha, drawing crowds along the shoreline.
- Tourists and locals recorded videos as the column stretched from dark storm clouds to the water, where a tight swirl appeared at the surface.
- The Meteorological Department linked the event to unstable conditions over the Bay of Bengal and urged fishermen and boat operators to stay vigilant.
- Forecasters identified the feature as a waterspout, a rotating tube of air and fine spray that can pose a hazard to small vessels.
- Locals refer to such funnels as “Hatisunda,” and experts say they appear occasionally along the Odisha coast during bursts of atmospheric instability.