Arunachal: Broken spy drone found in Leparada district; potential national security risk

A broken spy drone, identified as a radiosonde, was discovered today, July 18, 2024, in the hills of Tirbin Circle, Leparada District, Arunachal Pradesh. The find, reported by locals, has raised concerns over national security.

The radiosonde, which crashed in the village's hilly terrain, is a small instrument package typically suspended below a balloon filled with hydrogen or helium. It measures critical meteorological data including temperature, pressure, and relative humidity as it ascends.

According to officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this radiosonde was launched from the Mohanbari weather station. "It was launched from the Jalpaiguri station to collect upper-level weather information," an IMD spokesperson explained.

The radiosonde is crucial for upper-air observation, measuring atmospheric conditions up to 35 kilometers above the Earth's surface. This data is essential for accurate weather forecasting and climate change detection.