Thaindian News

Chennai/New Delhi, June 10 (IANS) A hoax call Friday of a bomb being planted at the Chennai International Airport building sent security agencies into a tizzy as they scoured the terminal building with dog squads and conducted anti-sabotage searches but nothing was found.

“We were alerted by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) that there was a bomb inside the terminal. Our personnel stationed there took quick action, searched the entire airport, but nothing was found,” Rohit Katiyar, chief spokesman for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) - the agency responsible for security at all major airports in the country - told IANS.

According to Katiyar, specific information about location of the bomb and time of explosion was also given by the BCAS.

“We got to know that a bomb may explode at 1 p.m. Dog squads were used. Anti-sabotage searches and procedures were followed,” he said.

Currently, the CISF has around 800 security personnel at the Chennai airport, which handled 10.5 million passengers, 1.10 lakh movement of aircraft and 3.23 lakh metric tonnes of cargo in 2009-10.

Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) which operates the airport in Chennai said that operations were normal and that security was heightened.

“Airport was searched, there is nothing to fear in Chennai airport. Some mischievous caller must have made the call. Operations are normal and no delays or flight disruptions have been reported,” a senior AAI official told IANS from Chennai.

According to AAI, operations at Chennai airport were crucial for the aviation scenario in the country as it was the third busiest airport after Delhi and Mumbai.

“On an average, daily, 10,500 international passengers and 18,000 domestic passengers are handled here,” said the official, adding that 26 international airlines and five domestic airlines operate from Chennai airport.