A sudden cyclonic windstorm ripped the metal roof off Vayathur UP School in Ulikkal, Kannur, on Friday at 12:30 pm, sending it onto a nearby building and damaging three parked cars.
The 15‑meter arch‑shaped roof, installed in 2008, was torn away by wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h, slamming into the adjacent school office. The impact shattered windows and dented the bodies of three cars beneath. "The collapse could have killed dozens had children been nearby," the school management warned in a statement.
Meteorologists said the violent burst lasted roughly 15 minutes, accompanied by heavy rain. The storm knocked down trees and damaged homes in Ulikkal, Iritty and other hilly parts of Kannur. The region has recorded an uptick in powerful cyclonic events in recent years.
Local officials estimate the damage to run into several lakh rupees. The incident has sparked calls to reassess the structural integrity of school buildings in cyclone‑prone districts.
At the scene, a 7‑year‑old student was present but was unharmed. Parents expressed relief that the narrow escape came without casualties.