Sixteen hoax calls kept Mumbai’s bomb disposal squad busy and on the edge today. Teams of bomb detection officials scurried from one location to the other — from railway stations to schools — throughout the day, leaving behind relieved crowds of waiting bystanders.An unclaimed parcel abandoned outside Mumbai central railway station caused panic. But what looked like an explosive device turned out to be a bag belonging to a doctor — with a stethoscope and a tiffin box.A black bag lying behind a bus stop and spotted around 6 pm was the centre of attraction till late evening. Police, fire brigade and commandos cordoned off the area and shops were forced to shut down. Residents were told to stay indoors, traffic slowed down and sniffer dogs brought in. An amplifier was found in the bag, which triggered off a signature indication. A makeshift pulley was used to pick and place the bag on the road. After a long discussion, one of the bomb squad members put on protective gear and got down to business. He connected the packet to wires and from a distance, the bag was blasted open.People heaved a sigh of relief thinking another tragedy had been averted. But when the contents of the bag were revealed, it was clear there was no danger in the first place. ‘‘We had made sure the contents were harmless. If someone leaves an expensive thing like an amplifier behind, it is bound to arouse suspicion,’’ a bomb squad member said.‘‘We received a number of calls today. While it is nice to know that the people are alert, some may be trying to spread panic,’’ said Additional Commissioner of Police (central region) R.T. Rathod.Sweating it out with the officers were sniffer dogs Don, Lyka and Lyla. They had been on the job all day. ‘‘They cannot function if they don’t get rest,’’ an officer said.The first call had come at 8 am from Malabar Hill about an unattended suitcase. Some clothes were found inside. Another hoax call came from the Bandra metropolitan court at 10.30 pm, affecting work for over four hours.St Lawrence High School in Borivli had to be vacated after the principal got a call from a person who identified himself as an assistant commissioner of police. The bomb squad came and went.‘‘We keep getting hoax calls but who knows which one is real. Two out of 300 calls this year were genuine,’’ said Jalinder Khandagle, senior inspector at the bomb disposal squad.
