A bomb threat call which later turned out to be hoax delayed the Bangalore-bound Hampi Express and sparked panic among passengers today.

The Hampi Express coming here from Kholapur was halted at Gadag, about 400 km from here, after the railway Divisional Manager's office at Hubli received a telephone call from Hyderabad stating that a bomb had been planted in the train, railway police said.

"After evacuating the train, bomb disposal and dog squads were pressed into service and after a thorough search it was found to be a hoax call," Gadag DSP (Railways) G B Khoth told PTI.

The train left Gadag at 8.45 pm after a delay of about one-and-half hours, he said adding further investigation was on.