Abandoned bag sparks bomb scare on train

An abandoned bag triggerred a bomb scare on a Pathankot-bound train, after which it was halted at Kandrori station in Himachal Pradesh and passengers evacuated.

Later it turned out to be a hoax as the bag was claimed by a woman hailing from Hoshiarpur district of Punjab.

“Around 12 pm, an abandoned bag was spotted by a passenger in the DMU: 74901 Jalandhar-Pathankot train. Two wires were coming out ofg a packet inside the bag, which made the passengers suspicious and they informed the railway authorities. Senior police officials from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh and Pathankot in Punjab reached the spot,” Ferozpur Divisional Rail Manager Anuj Prakash said.

The train was halted at Kandrori in Kangra district, he said, adding the passengers were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Officials of the Government Railway Police (GRP) and bomb squad were pressed into service as initially it was suspected that the bag contained explosives, he said.

However, the Railway Superintendent of Dina Nagar (Punjab) called up traffic inspector of Pathankot Chavni (Cantt.) railway station and informed him that the bag belonged to the woman named Anjali who was at Dina Nagar station.

The train resumed its journey towards Pathankot after a two-and-a-half hour halt.

Meanwhile, the police have returned the bag to the woman.