Terror alert: Bomb disposal squads rush to Pathankot railway station

Pathankot:

An unclaimed bag at a Pathankot railway station on Tuesday sparked a security scare in the district where police and agencies are on high alert following the terror strike at air base early this month.

People were swiftly evacuated from the area and rail traffic had also been halted or diverted for the time being on the route, police said.

Bomb disposal and dog squads were summoned to identify the contents of the bag, which has been covered by sand bags, they said.

"A bag has been found at the railway station. We are taking all precautions. We are verifying its contents," R K Bakshi, Pathankot SSP, said.

He said that security agencies were taking no chances and as a precautionary measure, they had cleared the area.

"As of now, we cannot say anything about the contents of the bag. We are at the job," Bakshi said when asked if there was suspicion that there could be explosives inside the bag.

Punjab is already on maximum alert after the January 2 Pathankot air base terror attack in which seven security personnel were killed.

Tight security arrangements had been put in place in view of Republic Day.