Bomb scare: Train evacuated in Ghotki after bomb threat

An anonymous phone call claimed there was a bomb planted in Karachi-bound Shalimar Express train’s coach No. 4.

SUKKUR:

The Karachi-bound Shalimar Express was stopped at Ghotki railway station after a phone call about a bomb in the train on Monday evening.

The passengers on the train started panicking as the train made an emergency stop. The train management received an anonymous phone call claiming that there is a bomb planted in Karachi-bound Shalimar Express train’s coach No. 4. The train was stopped at Ghotki railway station following the phone call.



There was an announcement at the railway station requesting passengers to evacuate the train so that the bomb disposal squad can search the train.

After the announcement passengers panicked and some passengers started jumping out of the train. The train was empty within minutes.

The bomb disposal squad, led by inspector Qadir Bux Tagar, started searching the train and after two hours of thorough search the train was declared safe to board. The officials also searched passengers and their luggage for added security. The train left for Karachi at 7:30pm after a delay of four hours Ghotki railway station.

Sukkur divisional superintendent railways Altaf Hussain Phulpoto told The Express Tribune that Shalimar Express is now under private party’s management.  He said he is not aware if there was an extortion demand from the management.

The threat was reported at Lahore railway headquarters.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2013.