The Author.
Dharamsala, April 20, 2013: The State Forensic Science Laboratory, Junga has solved the case of mysterious fire ball which fell in Jadrangal, a village near Dharamsala on March 21 this year.
The forensic experts have confirmed that it was a low explosive which contained radicals of Barium nitrate, Aluminum and Iron oxide was used in incendiary projectiles.
In a first-of-its-kind incident, two women sustained minor injuries as a mysterious fireball fell from the sky at village.
According to Dr. Arun Sharma, Director, State FSL, Himachal Pradesh who visited the spot alongwith Dr. NP Dubey, Assistant Director and Dr. Vijay Kumar (Chemistry and Toxicology division) from Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Dharamsala, the incident took place around 9.15am and eyewitness to the incident said that suddenly an object like fireball of around 12 inches fell from the sky that split into several parts after hitting the ground. Two women were doing some household work when the fireball hit the surface and some of its parts fell on the women after splitting and sustained burn injuries on arms and back. The women heard the sound of an aircraft passing by and a few moments after that a burning object fell near them. It fragmented into several small pieces and some of which fell on them. The rumours of it being a meteorite started spreading soon after the incident. However, Dr. Arun Sharma has earlier ruled out the theory.
Dr. Surender Kumar Pal, Assistant Director and Media Officer Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Dharamsala said that the grey ash and a burnt piece of rubber like material were found on four spots and the forensic team collected them as physical evidences. The material collected by the forensic expert from Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Dharamsala was sent to State Forensic Science Laboratory at Junga in Shimla for further analysis.
According to Dr. Pal, the analysis was done by Naseeb Singh Patial, Scientific Officer, Physics and Ballistics division of SFSL Junga under the supervision of Dr. Arun Sharma, Director, State FSL, Himachal Pradesh. The material was examined physically, chemically and X ray fluorescence spectroscopy. According to Patial such kinds of projectiles are prohibited for general public. The effective range of the projectile could be around 350 yards.