BGRDoreen32 at 21:29, 13 April 2026

2026-04-13T21:29:03Z

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{{Short description|List of tornadoes in the country of India}}
{{dynamic list}}
[[File:Tornado in the Indian Ocean.jpg|thumb|300x300px|A waterspout in the Indian Ocean]]
'''Tornadoes in India''' are rare, with only ~12 tornadoes being recorded between 1976 and 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aryan |first=Aniket |title=Tornadoes in India {{!}} SRIRAMs IAS |url=https://www.sriramsias.com/upsc-daily-current-affairs/tornadoes-in-india/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=www.sriramsias.com |language=en}}</ref> Most tornadoes in India are deadly, with an average of 80 people killed per tornado. The deadliest Indian tornado on record hit areas near [[Belda]] on March 24, 1998, killing 250 people.

== Events ==

=== Pre-1950s ===

* April 8, 1838 – A long-tracked and destructive FU tornado tore through downtown Kolkata, damaging numerous structures and killing 215.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Bengal Tornadoes—background info |url=https://bangladeshtornadoes.org/bengaltornadoes.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=bangladeshtornadoes.org}}</ref>
* May 1, 1865 – A strong FU tornado tracks through rural areas west of [[Pandua, Hooghly|Pandua]], taking an extremely unusual sharp-turned path and killing 20 people.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=De |first1=Saumyendu |last2=Sahai |first2=Atul |date=July 8, 2024 |title=Was the earliest documented account of tornado dynamics published by an Indian scientist in an Indian journal? |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332585436 |website=ResearchGate}}</ref>
* April 27, 1888 – A relatively brief FU tornado moves through [[Serampore]], killing 7 people.<ref name=":0" />
* March 13, 1921 – A violent tornado struck [[Barisal.|Barisal]], [[West Bengal]] and caused significant damage to property and infrastructure. Homes were razed, trees were uprooted and many person were killed or injured.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1921-03-14 |title=VIOLENT TORNADO. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20484524 |access-date=2025-05-27 |work=Brisbane Courier}}</ref>
* June 30, 1936 – A "terrific cyclone" in North Malabar affected a large swath of area, causing 2 thousand crore in damage before dissipating.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cyclone In North Malabar – MUCH DAMAGE CAUSED |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=58A-AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3 |access-date=15 September 2024 |publisher=The Indian Express |date=1 July 1936 |language=en}}</ref>
* March 2, 1942 – A tornado occurred in [[Burdwan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://library.oarcloud.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/cd019_pdf/0046267A.pdf|title=India weather review. Annual summary. Part C, Storms and depressions.}}</ref>

=== 1950s ===

* March 20, 1951 – A brief and extremely weak FU tornado touches down in the outskirts of [[Sherpur Bhura|Sherpur]], causing no damage.<ref name=":0" />

=== 1960s ===

* April 19, 1963 – On April 19, 1963, a tornado impacted [[Cooch Behar district|Cooch Behar]] district in North [[West Bengal|Bengal]] and the adjacent [[Goalpara district|Goalpara]] district in North [[Assam]], India. The tornado's path spanned 36 kilometres and had a funnel diameter of 100–130 meters, rotating anticlockwise.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Saha |first1=K. R. |title=The Cooch Behar -Assam Tornado of 19 April 1963 |journal=MAUSAM |date=1 July 1966 |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=427–432 |doi=10.54302/mausam.v17i3.5736|bibcode=1966Mausa..17..427S |doi-access=free }}</ref>
* March 21, 1969 – A weak FU tornado tracks through areas near Ushti, causing little damage and no fatalities.<ref name=":0" />

=== 1970s ===

*
* April 7, 1977 – A brief FU tornado tracks through rural [[Palashipara]], killing 2 people.<ref name=":0" />
* April 15, 1977 – An FU tornado affects areas north of [[Contai]], killing 10.<ref name=":0" />
* March 18, 1978 – A freak tornado hit the university campus area in [[New Delhi]] killing at least 28 people and injuring over 700 others, about 100 of them seriously.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-11 |title=HT This Day: March 18, 1978 – Tornado hits North Delhi: 30 dead |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/htthis-day-march-18-1978-tornado-hits-north-delhi-30-dead-101647009953381.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313051230/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/htthis-day-march-18-1978-tornado-hits-north-delhi-30-dead-101647009953381.html |archive-date=2022-03-13 |access-date=2025-05-27 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us}}</ref>
* April 16, 1978 – A brief but extremely powerful FU tornado touches down west of [[Bhadrak]], in [[Purana Bandgoda]], killing 150.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Tornado that killed hundreds of villagers on April 16, 1978 in Odisha's Keonjhar |url=https://kalingatv.com/features/tornado-that-killed-hundreds-of-villagers-on-april-16-1978-in-odishas-keonjhar-watch/}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
* April 17, 1978 – At least one hundred people were killed and more than 500 injured as a tornado battered [[Ramachandrapur, Odisha|Ramachandrapur]] in the administrative district of [[Keonjhar district|Keonjhar]], [[Orissa]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-17 |title=Forty Years Ago, April 17, 1978: Tornado Kills 100 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/april-17-1978-forty-years-ago/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
* April 18, 1978 – a FU tornado hit [[Karimpur]] in [[Nadia district]] and went on to [[Murshidabad district]]. 128 deaths were reported.<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of 86 tornados in Bengal for 1838–2001 |url=http://bangladeshtornadoes.org/climo/TORCLIMB.htm |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=bangladeshtornadoes.org}}</ref>

=== 1980s ===

* April 17, 1981 – A strong FU tornado tracks through populated areas east of [[Kendujhar district|Kendujhar]], reaching a maximum width of 997 meters and killing ~120.<ref name=":0" />
* April 12, 1983 – A brief but powerful FU tornado touches down in rural areas surrounding [[Kanchrapara]], destroying crops and other structures in its path. The tornado is estimated to have killed 50 people.<ref name=":0" />

=== 1990s ===

* April 9, 1993 – An F2 tornado tracks through densely populated areas south of [[Berhampore]], killing 145 and injuring an unknown number of people.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=P |first1=K. Misra |last2=Goldar |first2=R. N. |last3=Banerjee |first3=S. K. |date=1996-07-01 |title=Devastating tornado -of Kandi (9 April 1993) -A case study |url=http://103.215.208.102/index.php/MAUSAM/article/view/3748 |journal=MAUSAM |language=en |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=301–306 |doi=10.54302/mausam.v47i3.3748 |bibcode=1996Mausa..47..301M |issn=0252-9416|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":0" />
* March 24, 1998 – A relatively strong but brief tornado inflicts F2 damage to areas outside of [[Belda]], inflicting damage to buildings and killing 250 people.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=1998-03-25 |title=World News Briefs; Tornado in India Kills at Least 105 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/25/world/world-news-briefs-tornado-in-india-kills-at-least-105.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

=== 2000s ===

* October 9, 2003 – An EFU tornado caused damage to several buildings and injured several people when it went through the 3 villages of [[Harahari]], [[Chhamugram]] and [[Manigram.|Manigram]] in [[Murshidabad district]]. It lasted 5 minutes and occurred at 10 am local time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tornado hits Murshidabad district |url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/musicindia/hyderabad-girl-panipat-guy-wins-shankar-mahadevan-s-mobisur_125009.html/amp |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=zeenews.india.com}}</ref>
* August 15, 2007 – An EF0 tornado was spotted close to [[Sahnewal Airport|Sahanewal Airport]] and damaged standing crops, uprooted trees and blew off the roof of a tube well.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-geophysical-location-of-Ludhiana-in-Punjab-region-of-study_fig1_229894449}}</ref>
* March 31, 2009 – An EF3+ tornado destroyed 300 homes in [[Rajkanika]] and 11 other villages in [[Kendrapara district|Kendrapada District]]. There were about 20 casualties and 150 injured.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ODISHA STATE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY {{!}} Rajkanika Tornado Disaster Management, 31st March, 2009 |url=https://www.osdma.org/successstory/rajkanika-tornado-disaster-management-31st-march-2009/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2010s ===

* April 15, 2010 – 128 killed by EFU tornado in Bihar caused by a [[Kalbaisakhi|Nor' Wester]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-04-15 |title=120 die as tornado hits Bihar, Bengal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/120-die-as-tornado-hits-bihar-bengal/articleshow/5806201.cms |access-date=2025-05-27 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
* May 16, 2012 – An EFU tornadic waterspout formed on the [[Godavari River]] in [[Dummugudem mandel]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]] (in present-day [[Telangana]]). The tornado lasted 10–15 minutes and sucked out many fish from the water. No injuries were caused by it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=archive |first=From our online |date=2012-05-16 |title=Tornado over Godavari river! |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2009/Sep/11/tornado-over-godavari-river-85316.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
* August 26, 2013 – An EFU tornado ripped off at least 40 feet of the roof of the terminal building of [[Ranchi Airport]]. It lasted 15 minutes and caused no injuries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-08-26 |title=A massive and violent tornado hit Ranchi around 4pm on Monday. At least 40 feet of the roof of the terminal building of Ranchi airport has been flown away in the tornado. The tornado remained around 15 minutes at the airport which caused a panic at the place. |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/-a-massive-and-violent-tornado-hit-ranchi-around-4pm-on-monday-at-least-40-feet-of-the-roof-of-the-terminal-building-of-ranchi-airport-has-been-flown-away-in-the-tornado-the-tornado-remained-around-15-minutes-at-the-airport-which-caused-a-panic-at-the-place-/articleshow/22068569.cms |access-date=2025-05-27 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
* April 2, 2015 – A dark and dusty EFU tornado in [[Bikaner|Bikaner, Rajasthan]] displaced 50 families and ripped off trees and power lines.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fritz |first=Angela |date=2015-04-02 |title=Watch: Close-up video of ominous India tornado |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/04/02/watch-close-up-video-of-ominous-india-tornado/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
* May 31, 2017 – A sudden tornado impacted [[Chagharia]] and a few other villages in [[Kendrapara district|Kendrapada District]]. 30 thatched houses were damaged, trees were uprooted and 5 people were injured.<ref>{{Cite web |last=archive |first=From our online |date=2017-06-01 |title=Tornado plays havoc in Kendrapara |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/odisha/2017/Jun/01/tornado-plays-havoc-in-kendrapara-1611502.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
* October 12, 2018 – A [[Multiple-vortex tornado|Multi-Vortex]] tornado hit [[Kharagpur]], [[West Bengal]] and snapped power lines, downed trees, and caused significant damage to homes. There was a lot of footage of the tornado destroying trees and houses, most of it was posted on Facebook. The tornado was caused by [[Cyclone Titli]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDnflNYR700 |title=Cyclone Titli in Kharagpur |date=2018-10-12 |last=চেনা অচেনা পথে (Chena Ochena Pothe) |access-date=2025-05-27 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
* February 7, 2019 – A large tornado struck [[Faridabad]], [[Haryana]], a [[satellite city]] of [[New Delhi]] ([[India|India's]] Capital), causing downed trees, roof damage and some other Major damage. Along with the tornado, New Delhi, Faridabad and nearby cities, towns and villages, were hit by a hailstorm which caused 40 injuries, and also a rainstorm which caused New Delhi to get 30 millimetres of rain, which is more than the average 22 millimeters of rain New Delhi gets in the month of February.<ref>{{Cite web |last=TW |date=2019-02-08 |title=Tornado hits Faridabad, intense hailstorm Delhi-NCR, India |url=https://watchers.news/2019/02/08/tornado-hits-faridabad-heavy-hailstorm-delhi-ncr-india/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Watchers |language=en-US}}</ref>
* October 1, 2019 – A likely tornado touched down in [[Talod]], [[Sabarkantha district|Sabarkantha District]], [[Gujarat]] and caused light damage to cotton and peanut plants. There is only a few videos of the Tornado and several news channels said it was 'Tornado-like cloud' even though the 'Tornado-like cloud' was rotating and had some debris flying around it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-01 |title=Gujarat: Tornado-like cloud formation in Sabarkantha leaves farms damaged |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gujarat-tornado-like-cloud-formation-in-sabarkantha-leaves-farms-damaged-1605166-2019-10-01 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===

* June 15, 2020 – A tornado touched down in the [[Kendrapara district|Kendrapara District]] of [[Odisha]] and caused damage to 70 thatched houses in the villages of [[Talchua, Odisha|Talchua]], [[Tikayat Nagar]], [[RajendraNagar, odisha|RajendraNagar]], [[Baghamari, kendrapura district|Baghamari]], [[Giria Pahi]], [[Garta, odisha|Garta]] and [[Banipal, odisha|Banipal]] in [[Rajnagar Block, Kendrapara|Rajnagar Block]]. It was on the ground for 5 to 10 minutes and caused 12 injuries. Kendrapara District Collector [[Samarth Verma]] said that the wind speed of the tornado was probably more than 100 kmph (60 mi/h)<ref>{{Cite web |title=12 injured as tornado wreaks havoc in Odisha's Kendrapara |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/12-injured-as-tornado-wreaks-havoc-in-odishas-kendrapara-849905.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>
* May 25–26, 2021 – At least two tornadoes were spawned by the outer bands of [[Cyclone Yaas]] in the districts of [[North 24 Parganas district|North 24 Paragana]] and [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]]. One tornado was reported in [[Halisahar|Halishar]] with another reported in [[Chinsurah]]. Two people died with five injured, and 80 houses were damaged. Damage to trees and some businesses occurred as well. On May 26, Another tornado was spotted in [[Mahakalapada.|Mahakalapada]], [[Kendrapara district|Kendrapada District]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-05-25 |title=Two electrocuted to death, 80 houses damaged as 'tornado' hits West Bengal districts |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/two-electrocuted-to-death-80-houses-damaged-as-tornado-hits-west-bengal-districts/articleshow/82946743.cms |access-date=2025-05-27 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tornado In Kendrapada Triggers Panic Among Locals During Cyclone Yaas |url=https://odishatv.in/videos/exclusive/tornado-in-kendrapada-triggers-panic-among-locals-during-cyclone-yaas-47439 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Tornado In Kendrapada Triggers Panic Among Locals During Cyclone Yaas |language=en}}</ref>
* May 7, 2022 – On May 7, A [[Waterspout|tornadic waterspout]] that formed on the [[Brahmaputra River|Brahmaputra river]] caused significant damage to several huts in [[Barpeta district|Barpeta]], [[Assam]] at 10:20 a.m local time. No deaths or injuries were reported. It occurred during [[Cyclone Asani|Severe Cyclonic Storm Asani]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEmyTNCNhHE |title=Tornado rips roofs off in Assam, India (May. 07, 2022) |date=2022-05-07 |last=Wild WeatherUS |access-date=2025-05-27 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
* March 24, 2023 – A large cone tornado struck [[Fazilka]] in India on March 24, causing significant damage. At least 50 un-reinforced masonry homes were severely damaged or destroyed. Farming equipment was tossed, trees were snapped or uprooted, power poles were downed, and there was significant crop damage in farm fields. At least 12 people were injured.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-25 |title=Tornado in Punjab's Fazilka damages houses, crops {{!}} Video |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tornado-punjab-fazilka-wreaks-havoc-damages-houses-crops-video-2351221-2023-03-25 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
* July 2, 2023 – On July 2, a tornado struck Rajkania block in [[Kendrapara district|Kendrapada District]], [[Odisha]] and caused light damage to few huts in the villages of [[Talchua]] and [[RajendraNager]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P1c2-K1TRo |title=Tornado Wreaks Havoc In Odisha's Kendrapara, Residents Of Rajnagar & Talachua Area Affected |date=2023-07-02 |last=Kanak News |access-date=2025-05-27 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
* March 2, 2024 – A tornado touched down near [[Moga, Punjab|Moga]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], causing significant damage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/1kGc9/status/1765066864219324838 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207064229/https://x.com/1kGc9/status/1765066864219324838 |archive-date=2024-12-07 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}</ref>
* March 31, 2024 – A tornado, accompanied by a [[Kalbaisakhi|nor'wester]], struck the city of [[Jalpaiguri]], [[West Bengal]], killing five people and injuring over 100 others. More than 100 houses were destroyed by the tornado.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-02 |title=IMD warns of more tornadoes in northern Bengal after 5 killed and over 100 injured in Jalpaiguri |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/imd-tornadoes-northern-bengal-killed-injured-jalpaiguri-9244595/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
* March 15, 2026 – An EF2<ref>{{cite web | last=Paul | first=James | title=Massive Tornado In Odisha Blows Off 70 Houses; Two Dead & Several Injured In Nature's Fury [WATCH] | website=Mashable India | date=2026-03-16 | url=https://in.mashable.com/science/107169/massive-tornado-in-odisha-blows-off-70-houses-two-dead-several-injured-in-natures-fury-watch | access-date=2026-03-17}}</ref> tornado, which was associated with a nor'wester, struck the [[Mayurbhanj district]] of Odisha. The tornado killed 2 and injured 29 people.<ref>{{cite web | last=Pradhan | first=Hemanta | title=Watch: Nor'wester, tornado hit Odisha's Mayurbhanj; several homes damaged, 2 dead, 29 injured | website=The Times of India | date=2026-03-16 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/mayurbhanj-norwester-2-dead-29-injured-in-tornado-and-hailstorm/articleshow/129594994.cms | access-date=2026-03-17}}</ref>
* April 11, 2026 - A rare tornado touched down in rural land during scattered afternoon thundershowers near Devipur in [[Akhnoor]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. No damage or casualties were reported.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 11, 2026 |title=Rare tornado touches down near Devipur in Akhnoor, Jammu and Kashmir |url=https://watchers.news/2026/04/11/rare-tornado-touches-down-near-devipur-in-akhnoor-jammu-and-kashmir/ |access-date=April 11, 2026 |publisher=The Watchers}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite web |last1=Dewan |first1=Ashraf |last2=Finch |first2=Jonathon |date=July 8, 2024 |title=Bengal Tornadoes |url=https://bangladeshtornadoes.org/bengaltornadoes.html |website=Bangladesh and East India Tornadoes Background Information}}

{{Global tornadoes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian tornadoes}}
[[Category:Tornadoes in Asia]]
[[Category:Lists of disasters in India|Tornadoes]]
[[Category:India environment-related lists|Tornadoes]]

List of Indian tornadoes - Revision history

BGRDoreen32 at 21:29, 13 April 2026