LUCKNOW: A bomb hoax on Thursday delayed the New Delhi-bound Shatabdi Express train for nearly 3 hours at Manaknagar station near here soon after its departure.

An anonymous phone caller claimed a bomb had been kept on the train after which the passengers were detrained at Manaknagar and a bomb disposal squad along and sniffer dogs were pressed into service, police said.

Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Home) K Chandramauli told reporters an extensive search operation was carried out but no bomb was recovered from the train.

The superfast express proceeded on its onward journey after being nearly three hours, Railways officials added.