Panic gripped the crowded premises of Rajiv Chowk Metro Station on Wednesday afternoon when commuters witnessed heavy deployment of armed security men and personnel of the bomb squad checking every corner of the Metro station.

At 2.30 pm, Twitter and Facebook messages were flooded with queries about security concerns at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station after commuters witnessed heavy police deployment. However, when Delhi police official were questioned over any terror threat at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, senior police officials of Delhi police and the CISF dismissed them as “rumours”.

“There is nothing to panic as the high alert at the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station ahead of the Independence Day celebrations is part of a security measure,” said a senior police official.

A senior CISF official clarified that the checking was a part of the “routine exercise” undertaken in view of the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.

Police said that a multi-layered security cover has been thrown over the national capital ahead of Independence Day.

Over 40,000 security personnel that include Delhi police personnel and central reserve police force personnel are deployed across the city to keep a hawk-eyed vigil against any possible terror strike.

Amid intelligence warnings, the border areas of the city have been sealed. All the police personnel of the 180 police stations in the national capital have been deputed at every suspected crossing and intersection to keep a proper watch on every moving vehicle and the activities of suspected people.

Specialised units like Quick Reaction Teams, bomb squad and dog squad are being deployed along with the commando units of Delhi police at sensitive points, said a senior police official. A senior police official with the intelligence department said the growing menace of ISIS-led terror attacks across the globe has led to an increase in the threat perception. Further, the fallout of the Kashmir unrest and the increasing infiltration bids from across the border have also increased the threat perception this year.

The security agencies had intercepted communication about the possible use of drones to breach Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security cordon during Independence Day.