Varanasi, Apr 27 (PTI): Panic broke out at Varanasi airport after a foreign national aboard a Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight claimed he was carrying a bomb, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday night, police said, adding that the passenger, a Canadian, has been detained.

Security sleuths are questioning the man, officials said.

Following the bomb scare, the aircraft was moved to the isolation bay for a thorough inspection, but no explosive material was found, said Puneet Gupta, Director of the airport.

Gupta said the IndiGo crew promptly informed the Air Traffic Control (ATC) about the threat after the passenger's claim.

The flight was grounded and inspected as per standard security protocols. After receiving clearance from security agencies, the aircraft departed for Bengaluru on Sunday morning, officials said.

"Flight 6E 499 operating from Varanasi to Bengaluru on April 26 was delayed due a bomb threat received before takeoff. As per protocol, the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay, passengers were safely disembarked and all standard operating procedures were followed," IndiGo said in a statement.

"We deeply appreciate the patience, understanding, and cooperation of our customers," it said.

A detailed probe is on in the matter.

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New Delhi (PTI): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday said that it neither announces any merit list in Class 10 and 12 board exam results nor divisions are awarded to students to avoid any unhealthy competition.

The results for the Class 10 and 12 exams of the board were announced on Tuesday.

While over 93 per cent students cleared the Class 10 exams, the pass percentage in class 12 exams stood at 88.39 per cent. Girls outshone boys in both exams.

"As per an earlier decision by the board to avoid unhealthy competition amongst students, no merit list is prepared and declared by CBSE. Also, the board has not awarded first, second and third division to its students," CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said.

"The board will issue merit certificates to the top 0.1 pc students who have scored the highest marks in the subjects. The merit certificates will be available in Digi-Locker of the students concerned," Bhardwaj added.

CBSE merit lists were also not announced in 2020 and 2021 because the board adopted an alternate assessment scheme since some or all the papers were cancelled due to COVID-19. The board permanently discontinued the policy in 2022.