Train halted for six hours over hoax bomb threat

Anirudh Gupta

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Ferozepur, July 30

Hundreds of passengers remained stranded for six hours at Kasu Begu village following a hoax bomb threat on Jammu Tawi – Bhagat Ki Kothi Express (19226).

Ferozepur SSP Saumya Mishra said the police control room received information from the Indian Railways that an unknown caller told them about a bomb on Jammu Tawi- Bhagat Ki Kothi Express.

The SSP said the police teams swung into action and the train was made to halt at Kasubegu Railway station at 7:42 am — 10 km from Ferozepur. Mishra added that the entire area around the railway station was cordoned off and the passengers were asked to deboard before launching a search operation.

Later, the police pressed dog squad into service who along with security personnel, including the police, GRP, RPF and BSF carried out the anti-sabotage operation. Even the police teams from Moga and Faridkot were also roped in.

Moreover, bomb squads were also called to assist in the search operation, besides ambulances and fire tenders were kept on standby to deal with any eventuality.

The train departed from Kasu Begu railway station at 1:55 pm after getting the security clearance.

The police officials said the caller was traced down to West Bengal. He had been arrested by the West Bengal Police from South Parganas district, said the police.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Paramdeep Singh Saini said two trains — Jammu Tawi Express (19223) and Patalkot Express (14623) — had to be diverted while Ferozepur – Bathinda Special Express (01612) was short originated and Bathinda – Ferozepur Express Special (04603) was short terminated at Golewala.

“The administration with the help of villagers supplied food and drinking water,” said Manpreet Kaur, who had boarded the train from Jalandhar and was heading to Nagour in Rajasthan.