POKHARA: Bomb disposal team of Nepal Army has disposed an explosive device planted on the footpath in front of the Ncell office at Srijana Chowk in Pokhara Metropolitan City- 8 of Kaski district on Monday morning.

The pressure cooker bomb was very powerful and possibly planted by the cadres of Netra Bikram Chand (Biplav)-led Communist Party of Nepal, said police. A loud sound was heard while flames and smoke witnessed while the explosive was being disabled.

It is assumed that the bomb was planted on Sunday night. Locals and the Ncell staff had informed the police when they saw a suspicious object this morning.

Flames and smoke arising as bomb disposal team of Nepal Army disposed a pressure cooker bomb in Srijana Chowk of Pokhara Metropolitan City- 8, on Monday, May 27, 2019. Photo: Rishi Ram Baral/ THT

Likewise, another explosive device was found near Durbar Party Palace at Durbar Marga of Pokhara Metropolis-9. Security personnel took the area under control and Nepal Army's bomb disposal team reached the site for bomb disposal.

Another bomb was found along the Bhupi Sherchan Highway at Nagdanda in Annapurna Rural Municipality of Kaski district. Nepal Police cordoned off the area for security purposes and to disable the explosive.

Cadres of Biplav-led CPN are suspected to have planted such improvised explosive devices in various parts of Pokhara as the party has called for a nationwide strike today. This time, bombs have been planted in areas frequently visited by people and are more powerful than before, according to police.

According to Spokesperson at Kaski District Police Office, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rabindra Man Gurung, security has been beefed up in various parts of Pokhara. Security personnel from Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been mobilised.

There have been no reports so far of human casualty or infrastructural damage, added DSP Gurung.