Rare tornado kills 2 in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, India

A rare tornado struck near Tato in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj District on March 15, 2026, killing at least two people and injuring 29 others who had to be hospitalized. More than a hundred homes have reportedly been damaged and destroyed. Local reports mention this was the widest tornado to have ever struck Odisha.

A tornado struck the Karanjia block of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, India, on March 15, killing two people, injuring dozens, and damaging more than 100 houses across several villages.

The twister lasted about 30 minutes along National Highway 220 between 16:00 and 16:30 local time (LT), injuring 29 people in the area.

Local authorities confirmed two fatalities after the tornado struck areas near National Highway 220 during the afternoon hours. Emergency responders transported injured residents to nearby medical facilities, including Keonjhar Medical College, where several victims received treatment.

23 injured people are undergoing treatment at Karanjia Hospital, while six critical ones have been shifted to Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital in Keonjhar.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an INR 400 000 (approximately USD 4 300) compensation to the families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.

Local meteorologists and media reports estimated the tornado’s strength as an EF-2; however, this has not been confirmed by any authorities as of March 16. Local reports also said that it was the widest tornado to have ever struck Odisha.

Initial damage assessments indicate more than 100 houses were damaged, although earlier reports suggested approximately 70 houses were affected. The strongest impacts were reported in Kia, Kankada, Panapasi, and Dumuria villages within the Karanjia administrative block.

The tornado developed within a nor’wester thunderstorm, a type of severe convective storm common across eastern India during the pre-monsoon transition period.

These storms, locally known as Kalbaisakhi, typically form between March and May and are associated with strong atmospheric instability, moisture convergence, and wind shear.

Tornadoes are very rare in Odisha and occur during pre-monsoon months, with examples including waterspouts seen over the Chilika Lake in 2025. In June 2020 a tornado struck the Kendrapara District, injuring at least 12 people.

Nor’wester storms frequently produce intense lightning, hail, and damaging winds and occasionally generate tornadic circulations capable of causing localized but severe damage.

References:

¹ Mayurbhanj Nor’wester: 2 dead, 29 injured in tornado and hailstorm – Times of India – March 16, 2026.

Featured image credit: Mayurbhanj Tourism

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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