Weather reading equipment falls in Ghaziabad village

A weather forecasting equipment, launched by the weather department at New Delhi, crashed at Chajjupur-Dhana village in Ghaziabad on Wednesday, police said.

A weather forecasting equipment, launched by the weather department at New Delhi, crashed at Chajjupur-Dhana village in Ghaziabad on Wednesday, police said.

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The equipment bore the name ‘Office of DDGM–Indian Metrological department–Lodhi Road – New Delhi’. This launch coincided with Air Force Day celebrations at the Hindon air force base.

A Special Intelligence officer said, “The equipment could have created security concerns for low flying aircraft that participated in the celebrations. There is a complete lack of communication between the different departments.”

Scared residents alleged the equipment had fallen from an aircraft that was part of the air show. The police, Special Intelligence and meteorological department officials arrived at the spot and took the equipment into their possession.

“The equipment, covered with a fibre-sheet, was launched this morning but crashed due to discharge of the battery. This is a regular exercise, as the weather department launches a number of such equipment for gathering data on weather
conditions. A prior permission is taken from the Ministry of Civil aviation before such equipment are launched,” said Dr. Rajiv Tyagi, researcher, Meteorological Department, who reached the spot.

No casualties were reported due to the crash, police said.