A sudden downpour, along wih a tornado, triggered panic near Pudukottai and Vaagaikulam in Thoothukudi district on Sunday evening.

After the scorching heat in the forenoon, sudden thunder showers accompanied by gale pounded Vaagaikulam – Pudukottai stretch, where the airport is located, around 5 p.m. The tornado ripped off the roof of a few structures in the mini theme park near Vaagaikulam toll plaza.

While a portion of the sheets flew in the air, the fragments fell on six visitors taking bath in the artificial waterfalls at the theme park, injuring them. They were admitted to Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital with fractures.

The tornado also did not spare the roof of the toll plaza on Thoothukudi – Palayamkottai four-lane national highway. The flying sheets hit the high tension electric cables, cutting off power supply. Normalcy returned only after the 30-minute-long tornado became weak.