Daijiworld Media Network - Kothagudem

Kothagudem, Dec 4: Panic gripped Kothagudem Railway Station on Wednesday after a country-made bomb exploded on the railway track when a stray dog bit into it, killing the animal instantly. Train services were halted in the area as railway authorities took immediate precautionary measures.

Police personnel swiftly reached the spot, cordoned off the affected area and initiated a probe to trace the source of the explosive. Security was simultaneously stepped up at nearby stations, with intensified checks to ensure passenger safety.

District Superintendent of Police Rohit Raju said that the incident occurred under the Three Town Police Station limits. The explosive, shaped like an onion and believed to be a country-made bomb used for hunting wild animals, was reportedly discarded at a garbage dumping yard near the railway station.

The stray dog, mistaking it for food, carried the object onto the track. The bomb went off when the dog attempted to bite it, resulting in its death on the spot, the SP explained. Investigations are underway to identify those responsible for leaving the explosive in a public area.

SP Raju appealed to citizens not to spread misinformation or rumours about the blast on social media and urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified claims online as the probe continues.