Powerful bomb blast on rail tracks on Republic Day eve

Haflong (Assam), Jan 25 (PTI) A powerful bomb planted byunidentified militants on a rail bridge today explodeddamaging a portion of the tracks and derailing a goods trainin Assam''s North Cachar Hills district on the eve of RepublicDay.

Official sources said that the bomb, placed on railbridge near Lower Haflong Bridge, exploded in the afternoonderailing the engine of a goods train which was on its wayfrom Lumding to Silchar.

There was, however, no report of any casualty or injuries,the sources said.

Train services in the Lumding-Badarpur section has beentemporarily suspended and work on repair of the rail trackshas already begun, NF railway sources said.

Senior police and district officials have rushed to thespot and a massive combing operation has been launched in thearea.

Security measures have been intensified after the blast.