Chandigarh police simulates bomb threat at ISBT-43, conducts mock drill

A joint search operation was subsequently carried out by the HIT teams of the Operations Cell, along with the Bomb Detection Squad and Dog Squad. During the search, a dummy bomb was successfully traced at the bus terminus.

Following the detection, Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) of the Operations Cell, PCR vehicles, ambulances, and other emergency units rushed to the spot. Teams from GMSH-16, Police Hospital Sector 26, Dial-112, the Fire Department, Civil Defence, Mobile Forensic Team, District Crime Cell, Crime Branch, and the local police station of Sector 36 participated in the exercise.

After the area was secured, a thorough search of the entire bus stand complex was conducted by the HIT teams, Dog Squad and Bomb Squad to rule out the presence of any other suspicious object. The police said no additional suspect item was found during the operation.

The dummy explosive was later safely shifted to an open ground at Police Lines, Sector 26, in a sandbag-protected vehicle, accompanied by pilot and escort PCR vehicles, where it was “defused” as part of the drill.

Police officials said the mock exercise was aimed at assessing inter-agency coordination, response time, communication flow and on-ground execution during emergency situations involving public places.

“Such drills help ensure that all units remain alert and prepared to deal with any contingency, especially in crowded locations like bus terminals,” a police official said.

Meanwhile, normal movement at the ISBT, Sector 43, was restored after the completion of the exercise, the police added.