A loud noise in the sky created panic in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Around 1.30 pm, the huge noise similar to that of an explosion, was heard across Bengaluru city, including Whitefield, Electronic city, Koramangala, HSR layout, Domlur, Hosur, MG Road, Marathalli, Banashankari and Chikkalsandra among others.
While police sources ruled out there was any explosion and stated no damages have been reported so far, people suspected it to be an earthquake or a "sonic boom". Many residents rushed out of their homes fearing it could be an earthquake or a cylinder blast.
Srinivas Reddy, Director of Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre clarified it was not an earthquake. "The activity reported in Bengaluru is not due to an earthquake. The seismometers did not capture any ground vibration as generally happens during a mild tremor. The activity is purely a loud unknown noise. The earthquake activity will not be restricted to one area and will be widespread. We have checked our sensors and there is no earthquake activity recorded today," said Reddy.
It is now suspected the noise was caused by the fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30, which was flying at a lower altitude. However, the HAL and defence authorities are yet to confirm the same. A sonic boom is caused when a large supersonic aircraft travels faster (around 1,236 kmph) than the speed of sound. This generates a sound similar to an explosion or a thunderclap.
“No aircraft of Training Command was flying in the area. However, ASTE and HAL could have been undertaking their routine test flying, which necessitates going supersonic at times. These are done well beyond the city limits in specified sectors,” said IAF Training Command headquarters in Bengaluru.
“However, considering the atmospheric condictions and reduced noise levels in the city during these times, the aircraft sound may become clearly audible even if it happened way out from the city,” it added.