Meteor or Space Debris? India talks about sky mystery as Wahab first to capture rare fiery streak in Shaheen Bagh

Meteor or Space Debris? India talks about sky mystery as Wahab first to capture rare fiery streak in Shaheen Bagh. Read the report here as the OT speaks with the person who saw it first and grabbed a video.

A mysterious streak of light, resembling a rocket shooting skyward, lit up the skyline over Shaheen Bagh on Friday night, leaving residents both stunned and bewildered. The luminous trail was reportedly visible across Delhi and its surrounding areas, sparking curiosity and speculation.

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Local resident Wahab Malik was among the first to capture the rare sight on camera. Speaking to the OT, Malik recalled how he had stepped onto the rooftop of a friend’s house around 11:30 pm by chance when the dazzling flash cut across the night sky.

“I was taken aback. For a moment, I couldn’t figure out what it was. I uploaded it on Facebook,” said Malik, who later deleted the video. The surreal spectacle has since become the talk of the neighbourhood and media, with many still debating whether it was a meteor, satellite debris, or something else entirely.

“I could not make out whether it was a rocket or meteor. I was standing on a rooftop on Shaheen Bagh and made that video. I uploaded it in the night then deleted it as I was not sure what it was. Then in the morning when I got up I saw someone from Aligarh shared it on Facebook and it went viral. Then in the afternoon I uploaded it again. Had I not deleted it my video would have gone viral,” Wahab Malik told the OT.

The dazzling streak of light that lit up the night sky triggered a wave of speculation. While some stargazers believed it to be part of a meteor shower, others suggested it could have been debris from an old satellite re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.

The mysterious and rare phenomenon was spotted across several cities, including Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and even Aligarh, captivating residents and sparking debates online.

Since the incident, multiple videos of the rare spectacle have surfaced on social media, adding to the buzz. However, no official confirmation has been issued so far. As of the filing of this report, experts have yet to determine whether the fiery streaks were indeed meteors or space debris leaving many in the region waiting for answers.

When contacted by TOI, Isro remained silent on Saturday’s mysterious skyline event.

Videos capturing the lit-up skyline quickly surfaced on social media, with skywatchers and residents alike raising questions about the mysterious phenomenon.

X user Ujjwal Yadav said: “Just witnessed this incredible fire streak in the night sky… Looks like a meteor or maybe part of a rocket burning up in the atmosphere-nature’s own light show from my rooftop. Did anyone else spot it too?”

Shresth Gautam, an influencer, shared a video and wrote: “Can you believe this happened last night over Delhi at 1:20 am? It started as a usual Friday but ended unlike any other. I have never seen anything like it. Most probably it’s meteor debris, but no words can do justice to the view.”

The excitement reached such a peak that one curious user turned to Grok for answers, asking what the mysterious streak in the sky could be and here’s what it revealed. “It looks like the bright streak over New Delhi was likely space debris from a Chinese CZ-3B rocket body reentering the atmosphere, based on predictions and video characteristics like slow speed and fragmentation. Some experts call it a bolide, but evidence leans toward debris. Official confirmation may come soon.”

“New Delhi witnessed a spectacular celestial event on Friday night when bright debris lit up the skies, leaving residents in awe and sparking a wave of excitement online,” read a post.

Another said: “Just witnessed this incredible fire streak in the night sky. Looks like a meteor or maybe part of a rocket burning up in the atmosphere, nature’s own light show from my rooftop.”