Residents in various parts of the city, particularly those in south and east Bengaluru, were alarmed by a loud “explosion-like” noise around 3:35 pm on Thursday. The sound, accompanied by a shockwave that shook windows and triggered car alarms, prompted many to share their experiences on social media. The incident, which has sparked widespread speculation, was reported across neighborhoods including Hosur, Sarjapur, Begur, Anekal, Brookefield, Electronic City, Banaswadi, and Whitefield.
On Reddit, a post titled “What was that shockwave in Koramangala just now?” quickly gained popularity as users exchanged theories and recounted their observations.
Is it just me or did anybody else hear a loud boom in Bangalore? #bangalore #Bengaluru
— Prakash Mishra (@pmishra1598) July 11, 2024
What was that shockwave in Koramangala just now
byu/badhiyahai inbangalore
One theory suggested that a low-flying SU-30 MKI aircraft breaking the sound barrier might have caused the shockwave. A user claimed, “I was there. It was a SU-30 MKI, not a Tejas. The aircraft’s speed was sufficient to break the sound barrier, leading to the shockwave we felt from its low altitude.” However, this assertion was met with skepticism, with another user stating, “I attend Aero India every year and have never witnessed any aircraft go supersonic.”
Among other speculations, some users proposed that the phenomenon could have been a sonic boom, given its widespread effect across different parts of Bengaluru.
In a lighter vein, amidst the serious discussion, one user humorously commented, “Sorry. Heavy lunch.”
Speaking to OneIndia, Medini, an IT employee, shared her experience, saying, “I was hanging clothes to dry when I heard the loud noise. I initially thought it might rain, but the sky was clear.”
A sonic boom occurs when an object travels faster than the speed of sound, generating shock waves in the air that can be heard and felt over a considerable distance. The exact cause of this recent shockwave in Bengaluru remains undetermined, leaving residents and online users intrigued by the mysterious event.
Similar incidents have been reported in the past, such as in July 2021 and May 2020, where similar unexplained noises rattled parts of Bengaluru and neighboring areas, with the Indian Air Force later attributing one incident to a test flight sortie.