Guwahati, Nov 20 (IANS): The Kamakhya railway station in Guwahati Wednesday escaped a major tragedy after some passengers spotted a bomb in a train's coach and informed the police.

Panic gripped the Kamakhya railway station immediately after the bomb was detected.

The police and security forces arrived at the station on being alerted by the passengers, and defused the bomb.

Police said the train, Alipurduar-Kamakhya Intercity Express, arrived at the Kamakhya railway station around 12 p.m. Wednesday. Some passengers informed constables of the Government Railway Police (GRP) deployed at the station about a bomb like object.

"The GRP officials immediately alerted the police and Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) headquarters and shifted the passengers to a safe distance," said the NFR officials.

Assam Police Inspector General (Law and Order) S.N. Singh said the bomb was an Improvised Explosive Device attached to a timer device. It was hidden beneath a seat in a compartment.

"As per preliminary investigation, the bomb was not very powerful but it could have caused some damage to the passengers. It is difficult to comment at this moment as to who is behind the incident," he said, adding investigation was on to find out who had planted the bomb.