A major tragedy was narrowly averted at a school in Kerala’s Kannur district after a sudden spell of violent winds ripped off a massive metal roof, sending it crashing onto a nearby building and damaging three parked cars.
Three cars parked below suffered extensive damage. The incident has raised serious concerns about the vulnerability of school infrastructure to sudden extreme weather events, particularly in areas where young children gather and play. The incident occurred on Friday around 12:30 pm at Vayathur UP School in Ulikkal, where a sudden, cyclonic winds accompanied by heavy rain caused widespread destruction within minutes and then disappeared. The school’s massive arch-shaped roof, constructed nearly 15 years ago, was torn off by the force of the winds and hurled onto a building behind the school.
The school management said a few minutes difference would have lead to children playing around in the same area.
