Bomb blast scare halts trains in Assam

The New Delhi-bound Northeast Express and several other passenger and goods trains were detained today in lower Assam's Rangiya following a telephone call that a bomb exploded on the railway tracks a distance away.

The New Delhi-bound Northeast Express and several other passenger and goods trains were detained today in lower Assam's Rangiya following a telephone call that a bomb exploded on the railway tracks a distance away.

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Police said they had received a call that there was a powerful bomb blast on the railway tracks between Rangiya and Changsari in Kamrup (Rural) district, and immediately asked railway authorities to detain all trains.

After thoroughly checking the entire track, the security personnel found no explosion and the telephone call turned out to be a hoax one, the police said.

The Guwahati-New Delhi Northeast Express, New Alipurduar- Moriani Siphung Express and other passenger and goods trains were detained here and Baihata for three to four hours while the tracks were checked and sanitised, the police said.

Last night, a similar hoax call at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district had led the railway authorities to halt train movement fearing a blast on railway tracks between Diphu and Langsulet.