Samudra Tapu glacier expedition sighting
- Date
- 27 Sep 2004
- Place
- Samudra Tapu glacier valley near Chandratal, Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh, India
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Contested
- Evidence strength
What was reported
A five-member glaciology team from ISRO's Space Applications Centre led by Anil Kulkarni reported that on the morning of 27 September 2004 they watched a figure about four feet tall, 'robot-like' and apparently with balloons attached, move along the valley about 50 m away for some 40 minutes before rising into the air and disappearing. The team photographed it and Kulkarni filed a report; the Hindustan Times reported it on 2 October 2004. India Today speculated about a spy drone or spy balloon from across the border. No official finding was published.
What officials concluded
No conclusion stated
No official explanation has been given.
Strongest ordinary reading
A balloon cluster drifting at ground level (the witnesses themselves describe balloons attached)
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- Yes: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- No: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- Yes: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- No: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- No: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- Yes: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- Wikipedia: UFO sightings in Indiaen.wikipedia.org
- Hindustan Times, 2 Oct 2004 (Patrick Gross archive)ufologie.patrickgross.org
On the map
32.50° N, 77.55° E, plotted at the centre of the region named in the record
Show on the map