[meteorite-list] Villagers Stumble Upon Meteorite Debris In India

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:30:29 2004
Message-ID: <200309302215.PAA20159_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://ushome.rediff.com/news/2003/oct/01oris.htm

Orissa villagers stumble upon meteorite debris
rediff.com
October 1, 2003

Orissa villagers, still dazed at the rare sight of a flaming meteor screaming across the
night sky of September 27, stumbled upon more debris even as the Geological Survey of
India said the rock-like materials found in Kendrapara district were extra-terrestrial
objects.

Unusual looking objects were recovered from two villages of the district,
Sanamarichapalli under Rajnagar police station and Subarnapur under Pattamundai
police station, on Tuesday morning, official sources said.

The objects are solid and rock-hard, have a black exterior while broken pieces are grey
in colour. They were found in unmanned areas and the two largest weighed over three
kg each.

Villagers of Paschima Suniti and Benakanda villages had found such objects in paddy
fields within hours of sighting the fireball shooting across the sky dazzling at least 11
Orissa districts.

Dr K C Sahu, senior GSI scientist who had arrived in Kendrapara on Monday, said the
rocks had created deep craters wherever they fell.

The villagers are depositing the debris with the police at Rajnagar and Pattamundai.
The latter have been instructed by the district authorities to hand the debris over to the
emergency wing of the collectorate.

According to Dr Sahu, the objects would be taken to the GSI's well-equipped
laboratory in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday and later to the organisation's headquarters
in Kolkata for scientific study.

Sahu revealed that remains of meteorites found elsewhere in the nation were kept in
Kolkata's National Museum.
Received on Tue 30 Sep 2003 06:15:25 PM PDT