Baleshwar: Panic gripped Nilagiri block in Odisha’s Baleshwar district on Saturday afternoon after a mysterious metallic box fell from the sky and lodged in a tree.
The incident occurred near an Anganwadi centre at Gendradi village under Gendradi-Narayanpur panchayat.
According to sources, residents spotted a solar-powered box suspended from a tree by yellow strings, marked with the identification number P0086. Fearing it might be an explosive device or bomb, locals immediately kept their distance and raised an alarm. “We saw a metallic, box-like object hanging from a tree branch with yellow strings. We couldn’t figure out what it was or how it got there. We were terrified thinking it might be a bomb or a dangerous device, so we maintained a distance and instructed everyone not to touch it before informing the police,” a frightened villager said.
On being informed, local police along with fire services personnel, rushed to the spot. They safely retrieved the box from the tree branch. Subsequent inspection revealed that the device contained a small antenna, a transmitter, and markings indicating it was a scientific tool used for measuring atmospheric temperature, water content, or weather conditions. Police also found a contact number in the transmitter, which connected them to officials at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Two ISRO scientists – Nemi Chand and Rahul Shivgotra—contacted the police station shortly after. They confirmed that the device was a meteorological testing apparatus attached to a high-altitude research balloon, which had burst mid-air.
IIC Jayanta Patnaik said that police have asked the ISRO team to present official verification documents and identity credentials, after which the scientific equipment will be formally handed back to them.