Sambalpur: Passengers of the Alleppey-Dhanbad Express on Friday escaped unhurt as six bombs were recovered from a coach by the Railway Protection Force at Jharsuguda Road station, about 50km from here in early hours.

As there was no signal on the route to Jharsuguda junction, the train stopped at Jharsuguda Road station at 3.25am on platform No. 1. Some passengers of the S-3 sleeper class spotted fire in a plastic bag below the seat No. 72 and shouted for help. Some of the panicked passengers started getting down from the train. Seeing this, an RPF head constable, Khirod Khan, rushed to the compartment and threw the bag to the platform.

RPF sub-inspector J. Tirk-ey, in charge of Brundamal station, said there were six bombs inside the bag, which were connected to battery and switch system. There was no injury to any passenger or any damage to the train, he said.

"No passenger could say anything about the bag. The train left as usual towards Jharsuguda. Immediately, it was informed to the Sambalpur division and local police. The bomb squad from Sambalpur came around 10.20am and defused it," Tirkey said. The type of bomb has not been ascertained, and investigation was on by a scientific team.

On April 19, 5kg gelatin was seized from the Howrah-Pune Azad Hind Express at Brajarajnagar station in Jharsuguda. The explosive material was kept in a gunny bag. Acting on a tip-off, the GRP personnel raided the bogie and seized the unclaimed bag.

In another incident, smoke was spotted in the AC-3 coach of the Howrah-Jagdalpur Sa-maleswari Express at Jharsuguda station on April 19. It was said to be due to short-circuit. Officials rushed to the spot and disconnected the electrical line and allowed the train to run. The coach was replaced in Sambalpur railway junction.