One of the three unexploded bombs from the Second World War is fenced off with screens as specialists prepare to defuse them in Cologne, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. THOMAS BANNEYER / AP

Over 20,000 people were evacuated from central Cologne on Wednesday, June 4, after three unexploded World War II bombs were found, the biggest such operation in the German city since the end of the war. Bomb squad technicians defused the three American explosives, two weighing 1,000 kilograms and one 500 kg, at 7:19 pm on Wednesday, having earlier set up an evacuation zone of about 10,000 square meters for 12 hours.

Road and train lines were closed throughout the day and city officials went door to door, sending about 20,500 people out of their homes and closing 58 hotels as well as numerous restaurants and businesses. The heart of the city was left deserted, with a hospital, two old people’s homes, nine schools and a TV studio evacuated. Weddings had to be relocated from Cologne’s townhall and a man was taken into custody after trying to break through a barrier and enter the zone, local authorities said.

The bombs had been found during building work in the Deutz area on the east bank of the River Rhine. German construction sites have regularly unearthed unexploded World War II ordnance.

In Frankfurt, the discovery of a 1.4-tonne bomb in 2017 led to the removal of 65,000 people, the biggest such evacuation in Europe since 1945. In 2021, four people were injured when a World War II bomb exploded at a building site near Munich’s main railway station, scattering debris over hundreds of meters.

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Last Updated: June 05, 2025, 02:45 IST

These 20 lakh accounts come on top of the 2.5 crore IRCTC user IDs that have already been deactivated in the last six months in the ongoing crackdown on illegal booking practices.

The Railways has launched a campaign against the use of automated tools to book tickets online, employing artificial intelligence for this effort. (Representational image/Shutterstock)

If you’re using automated tools or AI to book Tatkal railway tickets , you could be among the 20 lakh IRCTC accounts flagged by Indian Railways as suspicious. These accounts are currently under investigation, but linking your Aadhaar details may help you avoid deactivation.

In an official statement, the Indian Railways said that every day, about 2.25 lakh passengers book Tatkal tickets through the online platform of Indian Railways.

“An analysis of the online Tatkal ticket booking pattern from May 24 to June 2 revealed that, on average, only 5,615 out of 108,000 AC class tickets were booked in the first minute after the window opened. Another 22,827 tickets were booked in the second minute. In the AC class, an average of 67,159 tickets were booked online within the first 10 minutes of the window opening, representing 62.5% of all tickets booked online,” the Railways said.

The remaining 37.5% of tickets were booked in the 10 minutes before chart preparation. Only three per cent of Tatkal tickets were booked after 10 hours of the window opening.

For the same period, in the non-AC category, an average of 1.18 lakh tickets were booked online daily. Of these, 4,724 tickets—about four per cent—were booked within the first minute. Another 20,786 tickets—about 18 per cent—were booked in the second minute.

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“Approximately 66.4% of tickets were sold within the first 10 minutes after the window opened,” the Railways said.

The ministry said that more than 84% of tickets were sold within the first hour of the window opening, and the remaining tickets sold over the next 10 hours.

“This clearly shows that Tatkal tickets are made available to passengers through the online system, and around 12% of Tatkal tickets are still booked 8 to 10 hours after the window opens,” the ministry said.

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Bots get the boot

The Railways has launched a campaign against the use of automated tools to book tickets online, employing artificial intelligence for this effort.

The IRCTC has decided to conduct special verification for all accounts that are not authenticated with Aadhaar. Accounts found to be suspicious will be closed.

The drive has been launched as the Railways aims to ensure that genuine passengers receive all types of Tatkal tickets. Account holders who link their accounts with Aadhaar will get priority booking during the first 10 minutes of Tatkal ticket sales. Even authorised IRCTC agents are not allowed to book tickets within the first 10 minutes of the Tatkal window opening.

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The ministry said it used special monitoring efforts and deactivated and blocked over 2.5 crore users in the past six months.

“Additionally, around two million other accounts have been flagged as suspicious and are under investigation based on their Aadhaar and other documents,” the Railways said.

Robust Tatkal system

The Railways is planning to make the Tatkal ticketing process robust with some rule changes, including allowing only Aadhaar-verified accounts to book online Tatkal tickets and Aadhaar-based OTP authentication for booking.

The ministry is also considering requiring Aadhaar verification even for counter-based Tatkal bookings to further curb malpractices

COLOGNE, Germany — Three unexploded U.S. bombs from World War II were defused on Wednesday in Cologne after the German city’s biggest evacuation since the end of the war.

More than 20,000 residents were evacuated from the city center earlier Wednesday after the bombs were unearthed on Monday during preparatory work for road construction.

Experts defused the bombs within about an hour, city authorities said in a statement.

Even 80 years after the end of the war, unexploded bombs dropped during wartime air raids are frequently found in Germany. Sometimes, large-scale precautionary evacuations are needed. The location this time was unusually prominent — just across the Rhine River from Cologne’s historic center.

Significantly bigger evacuations have occurred in other German cities.

The evacuations included homes, 58 hotels, nine schools, a hospital and two nursing homes, several museums and office buildings and the Messe/Deutz train station. It also included three bridges across the Rhine, including the heavily used Hohenzollern railway bridge, which leads into Cologne’s central station. Shipping on the Rhine also was suspended.

Clearance to go ahead with defusing the bombs was delayed somewhat because one person refused in the historic center initially refused to leave their home, city authorities said.

Copyright 2025 NPR

In Cologne, over 20,000 residents were evacuated to defuse three WWII bombs, marking the city’s largest evacuation since the war’s end.

www.npr.org

Cologne, Germany, witnessed a significant evacuation on June 4, 2025, as experts defused three unexploded U.S. bombs from World War II. This incident highlights the ongoing legacy of wartime remnants that continue to pose risks in modern Europe.

6 Key Takeaways Three WWII bombs were defused in Cologne.

Over 20,000 residents evacuated city center.

Evacuation included 58 hotels and schools.

Historic center location caused significant concern.

Bomb discovery delayed due to resident refusal.

Unexploded bombs remain common in Germany.

Over 20,000 residents were evacuated from the city center, marking the largest such operation since the war’s end. The bombs were discovered during road construction, prompting swift action from city authorities to ensure public safety.

Fast Answer: Unexploded WWII bombs still threaten urban areas in Germany, necessitating large evacuations and highlighting the lasting impact of historical conflicts.

This incident raises important questions about urban safety and historical preservation. As cities evolve, how do we balance development with the risks posed by unexploded ordnance? Consider these points:

Historical artifacts can pose modern dangers.

Large-scale evacuations are sometimes necessary for public safety.

Urban development must consider historical contexts.

Ongoing vigilance is crucial in post-war cities.

The presence of unexploded bombs remains a global concern, reminding US of the lasting impacts of war on urban landscapes.

As cities continue to grow and evolve, it’s vital to remain aware of historical legacies that could affect future developments. Are we prepared to address these challenges head-on?

Three unexploded U.S. bombs from World War II were defused on Wednesday in Cologne after the German city’s biggest evacuation since the end of the war.

The bombs were unearthed on Monday during preparatory work for road construction. City authorities said that the discovered unexploded ordnances were two American 20-ton bombs and one American 10-ton bomb, each with impact fuses.

More than 20,000 residents were evacuated Wednesday from the city center. Experts defused the bombs within about an hour, city authorities said in a statement.

Even 80 years after the end of the war, unexploded bombs dropped during wartime air raids are frequently found in Germany. Sometimes, large-scale precautionary evacuations are needed. The location this time was unusually prominent – just across the Rhine River from Cologne’s historic center.

One of the three unexploded bombs from the Second World War is fenced off with screens as specialists prepare to defuse them in Cologne, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Thomas Banneyer / AP

Significantly bigger evacuations have occurred in other German cities.

The evacuations included homes, 58 hotels, nine schools, a hospital and two nursing homes, several museums and office buildings and the Messe/Deutz train station. It also included three bridges across the Rhine, including the heavily used Hohenzollern railway bridge, which leads into Cologne’s central station. Shipping on the Rhine was also suspended.

Clearance to go ahead with defusing the bombs was delayed somewhat because one person in the historic center initially refused to leave their home, city authorities said.

Bombs from World War II have been discovered on battlefields and cities where fighting took place, often decades after the war ended. In March, a World War II bomb was found near the tracks of Paris’ Gare du Nord station. In February, more than 170 bombs were found near a children’s playground in northern England. And in October 2024, a World War II bomb exploded at a Japanese airport.