Bus driver killed by meteorite in south India, authorities say

Investigations are underway after an object fell from the sky in India on Saturday, killing a bus driver.

Indian authorities say the man was killed by a meteorite which landed in front of the bus, killing the driver and leaving a 1.5m hole in the ground.

It was reported by local media that the impact was caused by a blueish rock that weighed only 11 grams.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram described the object as a meteorite.

If the object is confirmed to be a meteorite, it’s believed the death would be the first recorded fatality from a meteorite on record.

"Most of the meteors never reach the earth surface as they completely vaporise in the atmosphere," assistant professor at the Indian astrophysics Institute SP Rajaguru told AFP.

Mr Rajaguru said the object could be debris from a rocket or space shuttle.