Crude bomb explodes on rail track in Patna

A crude bomb kept in a bag exploded on the railway track near the Rajendra Nagar terminus here today -  barely an hour before Railway Minister Lalu Prasad was to take a train on the line to Banka.

Chief Public Relations Officer of East-Central Railway (ECR) A K Chandra said a crude bomb went off near the railway station around 10 am. A railway workman heard the low intensity blast and informed the police. Four crude bombs kept in a bag lying on the track were also recovered.

Nobody was hurt in the explosion as they were "low-power" bombs. "Fortunately no damage has been done to life or property," Chandra said.

According to Superintendent of Police (City) Vikas Vaibhav the bombs were being defused and that there was no reason for panic.

Investigations are on to ascertain whether the bomb was planted on the track by saboteurs, Vaibhav added.

Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force jawans were combing the tracks to look for more explosives. The terminal building was also being thoroughly searched for bombs or other explosives.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad was to take a train on the line at 11 am for Banka from where he is scheduled to flag off the Banka-Rajendra Nagar Terminus express and also lay the foundation stone for the construction of the Cheet-Makandpur halt station between Akbarnagar and Nathnagar in Bhagalpur district.