Hoax call panics passengers

The railway police were on tenterhooks on Sunday afternoon after an unknown caller informed the police that a bomb was planted at platform No 3 of Secunderabad Railway Station and it would explode anytime. Immediately after receiving the call, security personnel with bomb disposal and dog squads reached the station and searched thoroughly for more than an hour. Later, they confirmed that it was a hoax call.

Passengers and officials heaved a sigh of relief. On the basis of the call data, the caller was identified as Ballaiah of Shankarpalli in Ranga Reddy district, the police said. They, however, maintained that the caller was yet to be arrested. Fire mishap at Food company in Katedan A major fire ravaged a food company at Babul Reddy Nagar in Katedan area late on Saturday night, reducing the stored raw material to ashes.

However, no casualties have been reported. The fire broke out at about 2.15 am at a firm, which exports, supplies and manufactures food products like noodles, snacks and corn puffs etc, said fire officer who visited the unit. “A major tragedy was averted as the staff left after the shift around 10 pm,” the officer said adding that around 300 women workers are employed in the firm. Smoke billowing out of the unit was seen as far as one kilometer away from the spot. Fire and rescue service personnel were alerted immediately by the security personnel and five fire tenders sw¬u¬¬ng into action.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the officer said adding that it was only after a five-hour-long sustained firefighting that the blaze was brought under control. The officials were yet to ascertain facts on the probable cause of the accident and loss caused to the firm.