Title - Bomb scare: Security measures beefed up

Railway police have beefed up security measures in the state following the finding of a bomb on the railway track near Piravom Road station on the Kottayam-Ernakulam route on Thursday.According to the highly-placed official of Railway Police, track patrolling has been intensified on the Kottayam-Ernakulam route in the wake of the finding of the bomb on the track.A joint effort by the Railway Police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been undertaken for this purpose. ‘’All major railway stations have been brought under the scanner. The bomb squad will conduct searches in case of any suspicion. In case of similar threats at other places, track patrolling would be intensified in those places too,’’ he said.RPF personnel conducted a thorough inspection using sniffer dogs at major railway stations in the state on Thursday. Meanwhile, a bomb threat to Chennai superfast departing from Thiruvananthapuram Central at 2.30 pm on Thursday was received at the RPF control room.However, on inspection by the bomb disposal squad this proved to be a hoax.Anticipating an increase in the number of train passengers during the Onam season, the Railway Police have already mobilised its entire personnel to ensure security.  The official said this would continue till three to four days after Onam.