Bomb scare in capital; personnel search four buildings

Two hoax calls claiming that bombs have been placed at four prominent buildings, including two government hospitals, created panic in the national capital this morning.

The police control room received the first call at around 10:30 AM that bombs have been placed in Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, Palika Kendra (NDMC headquarters) in Connaught Place and Vikas Minar (DDA HQ) at ITO, police sources said.

A second call came within minutes claiming that the bombs were placed in Safdurjung Hospital and not in RML, which prompted police to conduct searches at both the places.

Immediately after receiving the call, Quick Response Teams were rushed to the sites and evacuated people from these buildings, they said. Dog squads and bomb disposal teams were also rushed to the sites to carry out searches.

After about two hours of searches, Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said both the calls were declared hoax and no explosives were found from any of the locations.

Asked whether police had identified the caller, he said investigations were on to ascertain the whereabouts of the caller. Sources said the call came from a telephone booth but there were no official confirmation.

Additional commissioner of police (New Delhi) Shankar Dass said, "We think it is a mischievous call to create panic, as only yesterday, the office of Commonwealth Games adjacent to the NDMC building was inaugurated".