A bomb scare on the Lucknow-bound Shatabdi Express turned out to be a hoax following a thorough search conducted by GRP and local police.

The train was evacuated and searched at Ghaziabad Sunday, January 3, following information about a possible bomb threat. Delhi Police alerted Northern Railways about the threat and advised a thorough check of all trains including Rajdhani and Duronto Express between Delhi and Kanpur.

Neeraj Sharma, CPRO Northern Railways, said GRP informed them at 6.25 am. The Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi had already left at 6.15 am.

“The train was stopped in Ghaziabad at 6.48 am and all passengers were de-boarded and their luggage checked by the RPF, GRP, Uttar Pradesh Police and bomb disposal squad. The train was given a clearance at 7.40 am,” he added. He said the bomb call turned out to be hoax. “We checked different trains and in general increased our security. We are taking all precautions.”

Railway officials confirmed that there was no presence of explosives in any of the coaches and that the train departed at 7:52 am from Ghaziabad with all passengers on board.

Meanwhile, the New Delhi station was also searched by security personnel and the dog squad of Delhi Police following the threat. Trains already running late on a foggy Sunday morning were affected.

The national capital is on alert after the terror attack by Pakistani ultras in Pathankot on Saturday.