At least six students of Government Postgraduate Viqar un Nisa College for Women Rawalpindi fainted on Wednesday after a crossfire took place between the police and the fleeing robbers near the college. According to reports as many as thirteen female students were injured in the stampede following a rumour that terrorists had barged into the college in Rawalpindi.

RPO Fakhur Sultan said the police were chasing the robbers, when they resorted to indiscriminate fire near the college. “This sent a wave of consternation among the female students, who feared that their alma mater was attacked by armed persons.”

The firing continued for almost five minutes, the school administration and the police said.

Untrained security guard caused wide spread panic by buzzing panic alarms over rumours that an unknown gunman was seen moving in college vicinity, putting the entire law enforcement agencies into action.

Waris Khan Police held the untrained security guard and shifted him to the police station where SP Rawal Division Malik Muhammad Iqbal and SHO police Station Waris Khan Abid Khan were interrogating the guard.

After buzzing alarms, the college administration started evacuating the college to avoid any possible terror attack.

College students sustained injuries in a bid to escape by jumping college wall fenced with barbwire along with college's hockey ground and a little emergency exit gate.

The law enforcement agencies including Pakistan Army, personnel of intelligence agencies, high-ups of Counter Terrorism Department, local police, acting commissioner, education department officials, PML-N local leaders, also reached the college. They conducted search operation and declared the college clear.

Flashing news of possible terror attack on TV channels forced the parents to run towards college to know whereabouts of their daughters.

A massive traffic jam blocked all roads leading towards Viqar un Nisa College.

"We were buying samosas and naans from the college canteen when we heard sound of security alarm with some girls running here and there," said Aiza Sattar, a second year student. She added that meanwhile two security guards asked us to take shelter to some safer place. "We ran towards hockey ground where a large number of labourers were helping the female students climb up the wall,” she said adding that some were throwing girls outside by embarking them on their shoulders while others placing chairs along with wall to make the scared girls out of college.

She said her class fellow Subhania sustained injury in her abdomen because of the barbwire on the wall.

Edhi ambulance service also shifted a student namely Bushra to BBH following an injury into her leg after falling in rush.

RPO told media the panic created in VNC following the exchange of fire between police and a gang of car lifters.

SSP Operations Karamat Ullah Malik told media in college that the security of all the educational institutions put on high alert after attack on Bacha Khan University. He said that no terrorist entered the college and it was just a hoax.

Meanwhile, SP Rawal summoned all the police officials for inquiry who were on duty around and inside college.

Later, a heavy contingent of police also reached the spot and conducted thorough checking of the college and gave clearance. Quick Response Force was immediately called to the college to control the situation.

The college administration closed down the college after the incident. The robbers fled the scene under the cover of fire.

Educational institutes in Pakistan have been on high alert since the Bacha Khan University attack on January 20. The attack in the university at Charsadda, which killed 21 people, was the second high profile terror attack on a Pakistani educational institute. In December 2014, 132 students were killed when the Army Public School, Peshawar was targeted.