THATTA, Jan 1: A disaster was averted when a bomb believed to be planted to blow up the Karachi-bound ‘Business Class’ train was defused before the train’s arrival on Tuesday morning.

A railway employee, Mohammad Moosa Khoso, serving as key man at the Dhabeji railway station, spotted a suspicious bag placed on the track between the station and Ghaggar Phatak during a routine patrolling along the section. Without wasting a moment, he alerted the permanent work inspector (PWI) of railways Mir Mohammad Memon and the other relevant authorities.

A bomb disposal squad from Karachi led by Inspector Ghulam Yaseen Burirro, Mirpur Sakro DSP Juma Khan Panhwar along with Dhabeji police station personnel led by SHO Notak Khan Baloch, and other railways officials rushed to the scene and examined the bag.

According to the bomb disposal squad, the bag contained 1.4 kilograms of explosive material, which was defused.

Railways officials said that the Business Class train originating from Lahore was to pass through the Dhabeji-Ghaggar Phatak section within the jurisdiction of Thatta district around one hour before the bomb was found at 7.15am on the down track.

Inspector Burirro said that the bag weighed 2.75 kilograms and contained 1.4-kg explosives, a 12-Volt heavy battery, a circuit, a double detonating system and the other components.

An FIR (1-1/2013) was registered against the unknown suspects at the Dhabeji police station.