Van Ganga Superfast Express halted for nearly 90 minutes after loco pilot received warning of a possible explosion within 10 minutes; extensive search found no explosives
Published on: November 13, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
A bomb threat aboard the Van Ganga Superfast Express, travelling from Korba to Yesvantpur, triggered a major security alert at Rajnandgaon Railway Station on Thursday. The caller reportedly warned the loco pilot that a bomb had been placed inside the train and could explode within the next 10 minutes.
Following the alert, the railway administration, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) and local police immediately swung into action. The train was stopped at Platform No. 2, and security agencies launched an extensive search operation as a precaution.
Loco Pilot Receives 10-Minute Explosion Warning
According to the information received, train number 12252, Van Ganga Superfast Express, arrived at Platform No. 2 of Rajnandgaon Railway Station at around 2:30 pm.
During this time, a passenger approached the loco pilot and claimed that a bomb had been planted inside the train. He allegedly warned that an explosion could occur within 10 minutes. After delivering the warning, the person reportedly left his belongings at the spot and walked away.
The loco pilot immediately informed railway officials. Considering the seriousness of the threat, authorities decided not to allow the train to proceed and kept it at the station until the security checks were completed. RPF, GRP and local police teams soon reached the spot.
Bomb Disposal Squad and Dog Squad Search All Coaches
A bomb disposal squad and a dog squad were called in to conduct a detailed inspection. Security personnel searched all coaches, examining suspicious objects, passenger belongings and different sections of the train.
The operation created an atmosphere of concern among passengers and their family members present on the platform. The prolonged halt also caused inconvenience to passengers.
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After nearly one-and-a-half hours of intensive checking, security teams found no bomb or explosive material anywhere in the train. The threat was subsequently found to be unfounded. After completing the necessary checks, the train was allowed to resume its journey at around 4 pm.
Person Detained After Returning to Collect Belongings
An important development emerged after the person who had informed the loco pilot about the alleged bomb returned to the railway station to collect his belongings.
Security personnel detained him and handed him over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) for questioning.
During questioning, the individual reportedly gave different accounts of his place of residence, at different times claiming to be from Bilaspur and Bilha. This prompted the police to investigate his actual identity, background and the reason behind the warning.
According to the information available at the time, verification of the person’s identity and the circumstances behind his claim was still underway. His detention alone does not establish that an offence was committed or confirm his intention.
Incident Raises Questions Over Railway Security
Rajnandgaon Railway Station is an important station on the Mumbai–Howrah railway route, with a large number of passengers and long-distance trains passing through it every day. A bomb threat involving a passenger train therefore presents a serious security challenge.
Although no explosive material was found and no casualties were reported, the warning led to the train being halted and multiple security agencies conducting an extensive search.
The incident also underlines the need to treat every security-related alert in public transport seriously. The prompt response by the loco pilot and the immediate action taken by security agencies ensured that the threat was thoroughly examined.
The GRP investigation is now focused on establishing why the individual made the bomb warning and what prompted him to claim that an explosive device had been placed inside the train.
