‘Meteorites can even be categorised as contraband items’

As per a circular issued September 2013, the GSI is the custodian of all meteorite falls or finds in India and all such falls or finds have to be registered in the National Meteorite Repository of India (NMRI) in GSI, Kolkata. instantly after reportage.

The circular also states that meteorites may be categorised as “contraband items”, entailing a restriction on their free movement both within the country and across the borders. NMRI has over 700 meteorites on display collected from across the country.

IIA has taken the object

Meanwhile, a team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, has taken the stone-like object, which was recovered from Bharathidasan Engineering College, Natrampalli, and soil sample from the site of the college for analysis.

After the second incident on February 6 in which one person was killed and four others injured, police recovered a small object resembling a stone and weighing about 10 grams from the college campus.

Following this, the Vellore police had requested the scientists from of IIA to examine the stone and the site of explosion.

“On Tuesday morning, a team of seven scientists from the IIA visited Natrampalli. The team was led by scientist Muneer. They inspected the college campus, and lifted soil samples for analysis. They have taken the stone for analysis,” said M. Muralidharan, inspector, Natrampalli police station. Till now, the stone was in the possession of the Natrampalli police.

The team also visited Bethaveppampattu in Vaniyambadi where villagers reportedly saw a burning object fall on an agricultural field on January 26.

However, they were not able to collect any sample as the field was muddy, police said.