Residents of sleepy MP village panic after Malaysian met device falls from sky

Radiosonde, atmospheric parameter-measuring instrument with ‘Malaysia Meteorological Department’ written on it, was found falling from the sky in a village in Madhya Pradesh

Published on: Jan 29, 2026, 17:40:40 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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Bhopal: A radiosonde, an atmospheric parameter-measuring instrument with ‘Malaysia Meteorological Department’ written on it, fell from the sky in a village in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, triggering panic among locals, police said on Thursday.

Police cordoned off the area and secured the device. (Representative photo)

Fearing that it could be an explosive, the villagers alerted the police, who seized the device and confirmed that it was a telemetry instrument.

Police cordoned off the area and secured the device. Initial investigation revealed that the instrument had likely reached Raisen due to strong upper-atmospheric winds and jet streams, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Sonal Gupta said.

“The police reached the spot and secured the area. Upon examination, the device was identified as a radiosonde, a small instrument package suspended below a balloon filled with hydrogen or helium,” Gupta said.

Also Read: 2.8 kg ‘meteorite’-like object falls from sky in Rajasthan’s Sanchore

Radiosondes are equipped with sensors connected to a battery-powered radio transmitter that relays data to a ground receiver. They are used to measure atmospheric conditions such as pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind speed. Meteorological experts explained that the device was launched by scientists and tracked via GPS.

“The balloon may have burst at high altitude, causing the radiosonde to descend with the help of a small parachute,” Gupta added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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