(rephrasing para two and nine)

Rajkot, Aug 1 (UNI) Meteor-like objects struck at Bela village of Jodia taluka in Jamnagar district of Saurashtra region last night, according to the district authority today.

The meteor-like objects showered the area in rapid succession at around 2130 hours last night. The noise of the falling meteors led panic-stricken villagers to run out of their houses.

According to science department of the Saurashtra University, the meteors appear as fast-moving streaks of light in the night sky.

They are frequently referred to as ''falling stars'' or ''shooting stars.'' Most are white or blue-white in appearance, although other colours are yellow and orange.

Meteoroids are the smallest particles that revolve round the sun, and most are no larger than grains of sand. Meteoroids become visible to observers on Earth when they enter the atmosphere and are then referred to as meteors.

They become visible as a result of friction caused by air molecules slamming against the surface of the high-velocity particle.

Jamnagar district administration and the Indian Air Force personnel have already began a survey and search operations in the surrounding areas.

Meteor-like objects were seen in some parts of Vankaner, Bhuj, Bhachau and Morbi in Saurashtra region, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has urged the people of Saurashtra region not to panic during meteor showers. He also appealed to them to inform the authorities about such incidents, an official source said in Gandhinagar.

UNI AV-MP PM AK RK1645