Security Beefed Up At Bhubaneswar Airport Amid 20 Hoax Bomb Threats In A Week

Bhubaneswar: With bomb threat impacting 20 flights in a week, security has been tightened at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Odisha capital.

“No flight in Bhubaneswar was affected due to the hoax call made in Delhi. There was no delay in departure or arrival of any flight. Officials of the departments concerned at BPIA are on alert to handle any hoax call or emergency situation,” said BPIA director Prasanna Pradhan.

He further stated that the bomb threat assessment committee is informed and the message is reviewed in case of such threats. “The authenticity of the caller is checked, and if found true, all flights are scanned and so also the bags of passengers. The airport restrictions are increased and passengers feel frustrated due to airline delays. The law enforcement agencies understand hoax calls. We exercise caution when a call comes,” he said.

While Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel here are thoroughly frisking passengers and checking their baggage, bomb disposal and dog squads have been deployed at the airport as part of the preventive measures.

Secondary ladder point check (SLPC) of passengers, which involves involves airline staff frisking passengers and their hand luggage after security clearance, is also being carried out at BPIA.

Notably, the airport here has received two non-specific bomb threats in the last four months, sources said.