RPF to have bomb detection, disposal squads at every divisional headquarters

Bomb detection and disposal squads (BDDS) will be posted in all divisional headquarters of the railways, a senior RPF official said Thursday, noting the decision was taken to ensure quick response of such teams in case of a bomb scare on the railway premises.

There have been several cases of terror strikes at railway stations like a coordinated bomb blasts in 2006, the 26/11 attacks in 2011 where one of the places under fire was the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and the Samjhauta Express blasts in 2015. Following this a proposal was floated to have such squads in the RPF, but other than certain stations like Bhubaneshwar, very few divisions have such facilities, officials said.

"We have decided to have both bomb detection and disposal squads stationed at every divisional headquarters so that when there is a scare, action can be initiated quickly. We will soon get the required equipment and then post personnel for this purpose," RPF DG Arun Kumar said.

He said the squads