Overview

• The swirling column formed Friday over Chilika Lake southwest of the Kalijai temple in Khordha district.
• State meteorologist Biswajit Sahoo identified the phenomenon as a waterspout, a tornado-like vortex over water.
• The wind feature persisted for only a few minutes and locals referred to it as 'Haathisundh' or elephant's trunk.
• Tourists captured the scene on their phones and the videos spread widely on social media.
• Reports note prior sightings over Chilika in 2018 and 2019, underscoring the rarity of such events in India.