Bomb rumours at Hyderabad Metro Rail

Hyderabad: Rumours of a bomb threat led to widespread panic on the newly launched Metro Rail on Sunday afternoon. A picture taken at Ameerpet Interchange Station, of a police sniffer dog along with a bomb squad, went viral on social media, adding more to the rumours.

The police dressed in black were seen checking bags and inspecting corners at the station, forcing people to believe that there was some sort of threat. However, this did not seem to deter commuters. Trains ran full capacity and the number of commuters at Ameerpet, Miyapur and Nagole was high.

The police, however, dismissed the rumours and said that the bomb squad was performing a routine check.

A senior police official in-charge of Metro Rail security said that a bomb-detection squad would conduct regular checks at the stations.

“It is a routine check that will be carried out every day by the local police. Reports of a bomb being found are completely baseless,” he said.

Elaborate security arra-ngements were witnessed at all stations on the first Sunday after the launch of commercial operations of the Metro Rail.

N.V.S Reddy, managing director of Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, said, “There was no bomb threat. These are just rumours. A bag was left behind by a passenger and security cameras picked it up. The security staff identified its owner and handed it over to him.” The owner of the bag had been looking for it and had approached officials at the ticket counter seeking their help.

Two police officers have been placed at every level of stations to ensure that there is no trouble or breach of rules, such as people going to the far-end of the station to click selfies or performing stunts on the tracks.

Metro stations can be used as FOBs

Pedestrians can use the first floor of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) stations as a foot-over-bridge to cross over to the other side, HMR managing director N.V. S. Reddy said.

Medians have been built between the Metro Rail pillars and there is no gap for pedestrians to cross over. Most of them are seen standing at the edge or sides of the roads.

Mr Reddy said, “We want people to know that they can use the escalators and the unpaid area to cross the roads. They will not be charged.”

He said L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited had been told that pedestrians must be allowed to use this facility. “People can easily move around in the unpaid area and no one will stop them.” The staircases, lifts and escalators are considered as the unpaid area.