Whirlwind in Thrissur uproots huge trees near school; damages vehicles

THRISSUR: A lightning whirlwind accompanied by strong winds has caused widespread damage in several parts of Thrissur on Tuesday morning. Areas including Villadam, Vilvattom, Nadathara, and Poochatty were affected by the whirlwind. Trees uprooted in the strong winds. Four large teak trees uprooted and fell into the school parking area of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Poochatty. The students had a narrow escape. The whirlwind struck around 8:45 am, just before classes were scheduled to begin at 9 am, when children were arriving by buses and autos.

A major accident was averted as auto drivers and teachers quickly shifted students to nearby houses. The roof of the LKG section was severely damaged after a tree fell on it. In total, four teak trees and a large mango tree were uprooted. Three autos, a car, and several school vans were damaged in the incident. The uprooted trees blocked roads and caused heavy traffic congestion. Fire and Rescue Services personnel, along with local residents, removed the trees by cutting it and restored traffic.

Meanwhile, due to heavy rainfall, the IMD has issued a red alert for the districts of Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod. The department has warned that these districts could receive more than 204.4 mm of rainfall within 24 hours. All educational institutions, including professional colleges, have been declared holiday in three districts today.