Bidar: The residents of Jalsangi village in Humnabad taluk had an unusual and unexpected ‘visitor’ on Saturday morning, with the air balloon launched from Hyderabad to study weather conditions landing in the village.

The air balloon had been launched from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, late Friday night, carrying technical equipment. The residents of Jalsangi, however, were taken aback on seeing the air balloon that landed in their village at around 6 am on Saturday.

The authorities from the TIFR centre had followed the air balloon from Hyderabad and reached Jalsangi village. The local police officers also visited the site where the air balloon had landed.

The villagers were provided necessary information about the balloon to clear doubts and fear regarding their safety due to the strange equipment that landed in their village.

The balloon, which is a part of the research satellite payload of the Central government, reportedly had a weather study period of six to seven hours, before its landing. It carried a note stating in three languages, English, Kannada and Marathi, that the balloon had been launched for weather condition research and asking people who found it wherever it had landed not to damage it. The note also provided phone numbers for people who found the balloon to inform the centre of the landing of the air balloon.

The concerned officers have said that such air balloons are launched twice a year to study the weather conditions in the area.

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New Delhi (PTI): Thick grey haze shrouded Delhi on Monday morning, with the air quality remaining in the 'very poor' category with a reading of 366, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The Air Quality Index (AQI) at seven air quality monitoring stations was 'severe', with Narela logging the highest reading at 418.

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According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.

Delhi's air quality is likely to remain 'very poor' for the next three days. It is expected to oscillate between 'very poor' and 'severe' categories during the subsequent six days, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the current average wind speed, which is less than 10 kmph, is unfavourable for the dispersion of pollutants.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 9.3 degrees Celsius, it said.