A couple of days ago, Bengaluru residents were busy figuring out what caused the loud sound they heard. While some thought it was an earthquake, others jokingly wondered if it was an alien invasion. The next day, officials confirmed that it was a sonic boom caused by an IAF aircraft.
According to News18, at 10.30 am yesterday, a similar sound was heard in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu. People in many parts of the district including Kangeyam, Palladam, Mangalam, and Pongalur rushed out of their homes.
Did anyone hear the sound in the sky now? #Tiruppur
— Nikhesh (@Rabbit_Mannet) May 28, 2020
Anonymous sound in #Tiruppur
Exactly #10.35am.. Loud and intense..— PiDiP (A1+) (@peedarpt) May 28, 2020
#tiruppur
There was a big sound hear all around tirupur @ 10.35 am..— வஸ்தா (@rB4gmZ3M43CFnuW) May 28, 2020
What the hell was that ? #earthquakes #sonicboom or Alien invasion! Never experienced ! Loud sound @11 am in #Tirupur #Tiruppur
— Ajay manakshaw (@Ajaymanakshaw) May 28, 2020
Guys does anyone know the reason behind the heavy cracking sound with structural vibration felt in many parts of #Tiruppur district ?
— தமிழ் (@Robust_Tensor) May 28, 2020
Superintendent of police Disha Mittal confirmed the incident and Tirupur District Collector Vijayakarthikeyan K asked everyone to remain calm as the source of the boom was most likely the Sulur Air Force Station located 35 km away.
The loud Sound that was heard today morning across various parts of #Tiruppur was most likely a #SonicBoom caused by a Supersonic Aircraft. Kindly do not panic or SPREAD RUMOURS !
— Vijayakarthikeyan K (@Vijaykarthikeyn) May 28, 2020
The Times of India reports that No.18 squadron of the Indian Air Force (aka Flying Bullets) was operationalized at the station recently and they also inducted the Tejas Mk-1 combat aircraft which is supersonic.
The CAS Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria flew the #LCA Tejas fighter this morning with 45 Squadron at Air Force Station Sulur. He is on a visit to the Station for operationalisation of 18 Squadron.#LCATejas#IndianAirForce pic.twitter.com/v5Bfv8EJK5
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2020
With COVID-19, the migrant exodus, Cyclone Amphan, and the locusts’ attack, we really don’t need another crisis in the country.