Dust Devil Creates Panic in Araku

 Visakhapatnam: A short-lived whirlwind of dust created panic among locals of Araku Valley, Alluri Sitharama Raju district, on Monday, as it damaged cropped areas and displaced water onto farms. No casualties were reported.

The swirling gust hit fields in Demuduvalasa-Koronjguda, Dumbriguda mandal, and immediately it was dubbed a tornado by the locals.

According to associate director of Regional Agricultural Research Stations (Chintapalli) Appala Naidu, tornadoes are not common in tropical regions. He said the air in tropical areas is too moist to form tornadoes.

However, in mountainous regions the air can get trapped and turn into a dust devil.

The exact extent of the damaged farm land is being assessed.