‘Bombs’ on train puts Telangana on alert

HYDERABAD: A bag containing low intensity pipe bombs on the Falaknuma Express triggered a terror alert across states, including Telangana and AP, on Wednesday. The bag was found in the train after it reached its destination, Howrah. However, it turned out to be a false alarm.

A general alert was sounded at all railway stations of South Central Railway and sniffer dogs and bomb squads were pressed into service. Though initially a terror angle was suspected, investigation revealed that an Odisha-based company worker had been transporting these low-intensity pipe bombs for controlled blasts in soil testing.

Bomb recovered from Falaknuma Express being taken by bomb disposal squad (Photo PTI)

A Railway source said, “The Falaknuma Express started from Secunderabad and reached Howrah at 7 pm on Tuesday. A worker of an Odisha company forgot the bag in the train. The bag was found late in the evening and the bomb squad was pressed into service. After checking, they found these low intensity explosive-stuffed pipes.”