Bomb hoax in Noida mall, fire in restaurant

Noida, Dec 20 (UNI) A phone call saying a bomb has been planted in the Centre Stage mall in Sector 18 here today sent the police in a tailspin.

As police received the information that the bombs would explode around 1830 hrs, Superintendent of Police Paresh Pandey along with about 250 personnel rushed to the spot and started a search operation.

The five cinema halls, where movies were on, and three shopping complexs were immediately evacuated. The search operation was also conducted in the underground parking lot.

However, the call turned out to be a hoax.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out in the Geoffrey's restaurant on the second floor of the mall.

Speculation was rife that the bombs might have caused the fire in the restaurant.

Chaotic scenes were witnessed following the fire. Several measures were being taken to evacuate the trapped people.

UNI