NEW DELHI:
Panic gripped the national capital once again on Wednesday as five prominent private schools received bomb threats via email, prompting immediate evacuation and full-scale security sweeps. This marks the third consecutive day of such threats in Delhi, with a total of 10 hoax bomb threats targeting nine schools since Monday.
The latest threats were received early Wednesday morning. According to fire services officials, the first alert came at 5:26 a.m. from St Thomas School in Dwarka. Subsequently, Vasant Valley School in Vasant Kunj received a threat at 6:30 a.m., Richmond Global School in Paschim Vihar at 8:11 a.m., and Mother’s International School in Hauz Khas at 8:12 a.m. Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Lodhi Estate also reported receiving a bomb threat email later in the morning.
“Due to a potential bomb threat received this morning, and as advised by the police, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya will remain closed today. A Bomb Disposal Squad is conducting a full sanitisation of the premises,” the school said in a message to parents.
Police and emergency response units were deployed immediately to all affected campuses. Each location was thoroughly checked by bomb disposal squads, dog units, and cybercrime specialists. No suspicious objects or devices were found at any of the sites.
A senior police officer confirmed that staff members staying overnight on the school premises were evacuated as a precautionary measure. “All schools were declared safe after intensive searches. However, we are taking every incident seriously until proven otherwise,” the officer said.
St Thomas School, which received Wednesday’s earliest threat, was also the target of a similar hoax the previous day, raising concerns among parents and staff. “This has happened twice now. The children are scared, and we don’t know when it will be safe for them to return,” said one parent outside the school gates.
With 10 threats recorded across the city since Monday, Delhi Police are coordinating with cybercrime units to trace the origin of the emails. Officials suspect a deliberate attempt to disrupt normalcy and spread fear among the public. “The investigation is under way. We are tracing the source of these threats and working to identify the individuals or groups behind them,” the officer added.
While all schools resumed classes in the previous two days following clearance from authorities, Wednesday’s repeated warnings led most affected institutions to remain closed for the day.
The spate of hoax threats has put parents, students, and school administrators on edge. Security has been intensified around educational institutions across the city, and officials have urged the public to remain alert but not panic.
Authorities have also appealed to citizens not to circulate unverified messages on social media, warning that spreading false information could invite legal action.
