A brief moment of panic struck the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) bus depot in Mumbai on Friday evening after a red-coloured bag found unattended prompted authorities to clear the area.
The bag was first spotted around 4:45 pm, following which police cordoned off the spot and evacuated commuters as a precautionary measure, officials said.
A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) team was immediately rushed to the location for inspection.
After a thorough check, the squad confirmed that the bag did not contain any explosive materials or suspicious items.
The scare was ultimately declared a hoax, and normal operations at the depot resumed soon after.
Security across Maharashtra has been heightened this week, particularly in Mumbai, following a series of terror-related developments.
The state has remained on alert after authorities recently unearthed a major “white-collar” terror module operating across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, which led to the arrest of several doctors allegedly linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammad and the seizure of over 3,000 kg of ammonium nitrate.
Friday’s false alarm comes just days after a high-intensity car bomb blast near Delhi’s Red Fort killed 13 people and injured several others, increasing vigilance nationwide.
 bus depot in Mumbai on Friday evening after a red-coloured bag found unattended prompted authorities to clear the area. ){kind=link}