Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's security personnel heaved a sigh of relief after an apparent false alarm set off a massive hunt for explosives in Anantapur district.

There was a flutter among the security team, after a few persons noticed around 200 gelatin sticks in a culvert.

However, the sticks, which are usually used as explosives for blasting rocks, were outdated.

According to reports, the sticks were found a few hours before the CM's arrival, on a road near the Puttaparthi railway station, where Naidu was scheduled to travel to take part in a Janmabhoomi programme.

Since this came at a time when there was a Maoist threat to Naidu, the entire road was soon cordoned off with a large team of bomb squads and sniffer dogs pressed into service.

Currently, Naidu is under 'Z Plus' category protection and his security detail includes members from the elite National Security Guard apart from Andhra Pradesh police's Intelligence Security Wing.

Naidu had survived a claymore mine attack by Maoists on October 1, 2003 in Tirupati.

After a thorough check, the forces soon realised their mistake as it was learnt that the sticks may have been left behind by contractors, who had worked on the Handri-Neeva canal works in the area.

“Soon after the completion of canal and structure works, the contractors might have thrown out the gelatin sticks that were expired. It created havoc for the entire police department,” a senior official told DC.