Hoax bomb threats disrupt train services in Telangana

A series of anonymous calls stating that bombs have been planted on railway tracks disrupted train services in three districts of Telangana region on Saturday.

At least eight anonymous calls, which later turned out to be hoax, were received by the authorities saying bombs have been planted on the tracks at Ranga Reddy, Warangal and Adilabad districts, railway officials said.

Seven passenger trains were held up for more than four hours at different stations, they said.

"Passenger trains were held up at various stations following the calls. We informed the local police and after a thorough checking, no bombs were found on the tracks. All the anonymous calls turned out to be a hoax," a senior South Central Railway official told PTI.

Local trains plying on certain routes between Hyderabad and Secunderabad were cancelled apprehending trouble in view of Osmania University students' 'Chalo Assembly' call in protest against the recent police action on the campus.

With the Telangana students unions threatening to lay siege to the assembly demanding resignation of all elected representatives from the region over the statehood issue, over 20,000 policemen including those from paramilitary forces were deployed across the state capital to thwart their attempts to take out the rally.