These beautiful shapes in the sky may look like murmurations of starlings – but the reality is far less appealing.
The swirling clouds are actually mosquitoes, which have formed vast swarms over the west Indian city of Pune.
Some residents have compared the sight to a tornado, while others have warned the quantity of biting insects poses a serious danger due to the diseases they spread.
Many have been unable to leave their homes in the area, while children are not permitted to spend time in gardens or parks.
According to local media, the increase in mosquito numbers around Pune is due to the rise in water levels at the Mula Mutha River.
That is providing the damp conditions needed for the insects to thrive.
Nitin, a resident of the city’s Kharadi neighborhood, told ANI News: ‘Recently, I have seen a lot of mosquitoes. ‘For three or four days, there has been a tornado of mosquitoes here in Kharadi. There have been a lot of problems and the locals are having difficulties due to this.’
Mosquitoes are responsible for the spread of several potentially fatal tropical diseases, including malaria, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.
They are considered the deadliest creature on the planet, and according to some estimates may have killed half of all the humans who have ever lived.
In India, nearly 40 million people each year get infected with diseases spread by mosquitoes.
