A brief panic swept through Sambalpur district in Odisha on Sunday after an unattended bag was spotted on the roadside, raising fears of a possible bomb threat.

The bag was found in front of a mall on Budharaja Road, prompting concerned passersby to alert the police. Authorities quickly cordoned off the area as a precaution. Senior officials, including the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), along with the bomb disposal and dog squads, were deployed to inspect the suspicious bag.

During the investigation, a woman arrived with her family and claimed ownership of the bag. She explained that she had traveled from Jharsuguda Airport by car and accidentally left the bag behind while boarding an auto-rickshaw. Realizing it was missing after reaching Dhanupali, she retraced her route and returned to the spot.

Police verified the contents and confirmed that the bag contained no explosives or suspicious materials. “The unattended bag caused panic among locals, but the owner arrived before it could be examined. After verification, it was identified and returned to her,” said Srimanta Barik, Additional SP, Sambalpur.

With the threat cleared, normalcy was restored, and residents were relieved.