[meteorite-list] Another Meteorite Fall in India

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Sep 5 16:56:38 2006
Message-ID: <200609052056.NAA23908_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/06/stories/2006090600281500.htm

Meteorite fall in Rajasthan village
The Hindu (India)
September 6, 2006

10th incident in the State since 1995

JAIPUR: A meteorite fell at Kanvarpura village near Rawatbhata, where
the Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant is situated, on August 29.

It weighs 6.8 kg and is of a rare type as it consists of 90 per cent iron.

"Unspectacular event"

At a press conference here on Monday, the Geological Survey of India
(GSI) said the Kanvarpura incident was an "unspectacular event" compared
to the meteorite shower in Gujarat recently.

GSI Deputy Director-General (western region) R.S. Goyal said no
fireworks were seen as the meteorite fell around 1:37 p.m. "The bright
sunlight masked any glow in the sky, and the event would have probably
gone unreported but for two shepherds who reported the matter at a
police station."

Frightens shepherds

Dr. Goyal said the shepherds got frightened after the meteorite fell
with a loud sound. They beat the meteorite with lathis and dragged it
some distance, before immersing it in water. GSI scientists, who rushed
to the village, recovered the meteorite with the help of the local
administration.

He said the meteorite could have caused devastation on an "unimaginable
scale" if it had fallen on the Rawatbhata Atomic Power Plant. At least
10 cosmic bodies have fallen in the State, especially in its western
parts, since 1995. The previous incident was reported at Bhuka village
in Barmer district in June 2005.
Received on Tue 05 Sep 2006 04:56:35 PM PDT