GUWAHATI: Passengers travelling in the Arunachal Express had a miraculous escape when militants exploded a powerful bomb and subsequently fired causing damage to 10 coaches.

Chief public relation officer of the Northeast Frontier Railway Trikalagya Rabha said that no passengers were hurt after the militants exploded the bomb underneath the train travelling between Rangiya and Goreswar at 7.45 pm on Thursday night.

Four coaches and about 50 cm of rail track were damaged after the blast as the ultras fired on six other coaches from automatic weapons which bore 81 bullet hits spread on both sides, Rabha said.

Despite the blast and subsequent firing, the train was not derailed, he said.

Information about the incident was first given by the driver and guard of the train when they arrived at Goreswar station at around 7.47 pm.

Railway and security officials rushed to the site and found 55 metres of electrical wire.

They are investigating the case.