KATHMANDU: A bomb hoax created panic at Prasuti Marg, Babarmahal, prompting the traffic officials to halt vehicular movement for three hours on Tuesday.

A Nepali Army bomb disposal squad arrived at the scene with the equipment. The elite bomb disposal squad took at least one-and-a-half hours to identify a deserted motorbike with a suspected box in a heavily guarded area. Later, it turned out to be a hoax. The box contained a blue book belonging to Sampurna KC. Babarmahal area houses key government offices. Uttam KC, army captain, confirmed that the two-wheeler with a box did not contain a bomb. Army officials handed over the motorbike to the traffic police for further investigation.