Was This the First Recorded Death by Meteorite?

An Indian man who died after a mysterious blast at a private engineering college could be the first recorded death by meteorite, if reports are confirmed.

A bus driver, identified only as Kamaraj, was killed – with three others injured – after an explosion at the Bharathidasan Engineering College in Natrampalli, in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district – located in the South of India, with a population of around 60 million – on Saturday (6th February), according to India’s NDTV. NDTV followed up the story on Sunday, reporting that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa alleged that the “mishap” was the result of a falling meteorite.

“A mishap occurred yesterday when a meteorite fell in the campus of a private engineering college in Vellore district’s K Pantharappalli village,” Jayalalithaa said in a statement, adding, “I have ordered the Vellore district administration and hospital officials to provide [the three people injured with the] best treatment.”

If Jayalalithaa’s testimony is proven to be true, Kamaraj is set to become the first recorded death by meteorite in history.

The explosion in Tamil Nadu made a crater in the ground and left several nearby buses with broken windows. Early reports suggested that the incident was the result of a bomb, but forensic experts could find no trace of explosives.

Image courtesy of Science World Report.