Scientific instrument, along with balloon, falls at Bidar village, locals anxious

BIDAR: A scientific instrument belonging to the TIFR Balloon Facility at Hyderabad, coming under the National Center of Nuclear Science and Mathematics, Government of India, fell at Jalasangi village in Humnabad taluk, creating anxiety among the villagers. The Humnabad police arrived later and cordoned off the area.

The instrument, which was hooked to a balloon, fell along with it and red light was blinking. A Kannada letter was also found along with the instrument announcing a reward of Rs 3,000 to the finder(s) along with a set of instructions. A part of the balloon had got tangled to a huge tree.

The letter directed the finder(s) not to open anything and to protect all parts of it. It also said that instrument should not be moved and the local police should be informed. The letter also mentioned some contact numbers and email IDs and said the reward will be given by TIFR officials if all the components of the instrument are intact.

According to Wikipedia, the National Balloon Facility, also known as the TIFR Balloon Facility, is a stratospheric balloon launch base under the joint management of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

This institute is located in Hyderabad near Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL). Being the only major balloon facility in the world close to the geomagnetic equator, this facility is extensively used by researchers from all over the world, it said.