Late Saturday night, a bomb scare in Delhi’s Ranhola area led to the evacuation of a dozen passengers from a cluster bus, only for authorities to later confirm it was a false alarm. The Delhi Police clarified on Sunday that the incident was a case of mistaken identity or a hoax, as no bomb was found.
The alarm was raised at 9:57 pm when a cluster bus traveling from Najafgarh to Narela was stopped by its conductor after he discovered a suspicious black polythene bag containing electronic items that he mistook for a bomb.
Jimmy Chiram, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer), stated, “We received a call when the bus stopped in the Bakkarwala area. The conductor evacuated everyone in time, which was the right decision under the circumstances. The bag was left unattended, prompting a swift response. We found the bus parked near a CNG pump.”
Upon arrival, the police cordoned off the area and summoned a bomb disposal squad and detection teams. In the meantime, the passengers were deboarded and left stranded on the road. The police later ensured all passengers were escorted back home safely.
“There was some minor inconvenience, but it was all resolved quickly. The teams examined the bag and found circuit boards wrapped in black paper. No explosives were detected, and the operation was completed within minutes,” the DCP reported.
Given that the incident turned out to be a false alarm, no action has been taken against anyone involved. The police recognized the conductor’s cautious approach and emphasized that it was better to err on the side of caution in such situations.