Mystery in skies: Fiery streaks dazzle Delhi-NCR residents, spark buzz; watch video

NEW DELHI: Residents across Delhi and nearby cities in the national capital region (NCR) were left puzzled early on Saturday morning after seeing bright fiery streaks across the sky. Witnesses quickly took to social media, sharing videos and photos of what many described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” spectacle. The flash was visible for only a few seconds but was reportedly bright enough to outshine city lights, leaving residents wondering whether it was a meteor shower, space debris, or something else entirely.According to users, the phenomenon was most likely a bolide — a type of meteor that bursts into fragments after entering the Earth’s atmosphere due to intense friction and heat.The American Meteor Society noted that while September is an active period for smaller meteor showers, isolated fireball-like meteors can appear outside of predicted showers.For many residents, the event was fleeting but unforgettable. “It lasted only seconds. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said a skywatcher in South Delhi.While the exact origin of Saturday’s fiery streaks remains uncertain, astronomers say events like this, whether meteors or reentering space debris, are not uncommon — but their sudden appearance over a major city always sparks curiosity and wonder.In Aligarh, locals also witnessed the fiery streak.Earlier, astronomers had forecast that two recently identified comets — C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) — might light up the skies by mid-October and even become visible to the naked eye. It was expected that skywatchers could witness the unusual spectacle of both comets appearing alongside a meteor shower peaking in the same week. However, officials have not confirmed whether Saturday’s unusual display in the sky was connected to these comets.