A large dust devil bought traffic to a halt in Banaskanta district in Gujarat state on March 17.

Footage from on Kanodar highway in Palanpur shows vehicles waiting for the long swirling vortex to subside.  

A local resident Ramesh Patel said: "It was over 100 metres tall and lasted for a few minutes."

Dust devils are swirling masses of air that form in the desert and send sand spinning. They are usually harmless, but occasionally they can cause some damage to both people and property.

A large dust devil bought traffic to a halt in Banaskanta district in Gujarat state on March 17.

Footage from at Kanodar highway in Palanpur shows vehicles waiting for the long swirling vortex to subside.  

A local resident Ramesh Patel said: "It was over 100 metres tall and lasted for a few minutes."

Dust devils are twirling masses of air that form in the desert and send sand spinning. They are usually harmless, but occasionally they can cause some damage to both people and property.