Watch: Panic in Pune as ‘Mosquito Tornado’ Sweeps Through Residential Zones

Numerous videos of an atypical occurrence swirling over Pune’s Mutha river have gone viral on social media, coined a “mosquito tornado.” Filmed in the city’s Mundhwa, Keshavnagar, and Kharadi districts, the footage shows an enormous swarm of mosquitoes taking over the sky. Residents are in a panic, saying that the mosquito threat has been causing them a lot of problems. This frightening situation has caused panic among the residents. Homeowners in these upscale neighborhoods who reside in opulent high-rise buildings have been shut in and unable to access their balconies. Children cannot even play in parks or gardens.

A number of locals expressed their worries on social media, calling on the authorities to clear up the damaged area and act. Many have noted that mosquito breeding grounds are potential breeding grounds for a variety of diseases, including dengue, malaria, and even chikungunya.

The threat is primarily linked to an augmented water level in Kharadi’s Mula-Mutha River. Though Pune Municipal Corporation started the task of removing excess water two days ago, the situation is still not under control. Things are especially bad along the riverbed, which affects a lot of different places, like IT parks, schools, sports arenas, old age homes, cemeteries, and the surrounding villages. A small dam and a water treatment facility are also present on the riverbed. Because of these projects, the flow of water has slowed down, causing water to accumulate. This creates the perfect breeding environment for mosquitoes.

Similar tornadoes have been observed in the past, usually during the rainy season, in Russia and Guatemala.