On Sunday, over 40 private schools in Delhi, including Delhi Public School Vasant Kunj, Delhi Public School R.K. Puram, G.D. Goenka Paschim Vihar, Doon Public School Paschim Vihar, and Brilliant’s Convent School Pritampura, received bomb threats via email. According to reports, calls from GD Goenka and DPS R.K. Puram was made at 6:15 a.m. and 7:06 a.m., respectively. A team from the Delhi Fire Services, along with the bomb squad, dog squad, DPF personnel, and police, promptly arrived at the locations.
This is not the first time schools in the national capital have faced bomb threats. In November, a private school in Rohini received a bomb threat just one day after a low-intensity explosion occurred near Prashant Vihar. On October 22, several schools run by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) across India received hoax bomb threats, causing panic. In May, over 60 schools in Delhi-NCR were evacuated after receiving similar threats, heightening concerns. The growing frequency of such hoaxes is not only a source of anxiety for students and parents but also puts significant strain on the country’s security forces.
5 effective ways schools can prepare students for bomb threat situations
In the wake of rising bomb threats, schools must prioritize equipping students with the skills and knowledge to handle such emergencies. Here are five proactive measures to ensure students are prepared, both physically and emotionally, to stay safe during crises.
Building strong ties with emergency services: To ensure a swift and effective response during emergencies, schools must establish solid partnerships with local emergency services—police, fire, and medical teams. Regular communication and collaborative planning are key to staying prepared. Schools should also organize mock drills with emergency professionals to guide both students and staff through realistic threat scenarios, enhancing their ability to act fast and efficiently when faced with a bomb threat.
Mastering evacuation drills: A school’s safety plan must be a work in progress, regularly updated in collaboration with emergency teams. Drills are essential, from fire evacuations to bomb threat simulations. These drills help students and staff practice key evacuation steps—finding exits, heading to safe zones, and following safety protocols. Working with emergency services allows schools to fine-tune these plans, ensuring everyone knows exactly what to do if disaster strikes.
Crisis management training for students and staff: Crisis management workshops should be part of a school’s strategy to prepare for bomb threats. By partnering with experts, schools can train staff and students in staying calm, making critical decisions, and handling stress during emergencies. With guidance from emergency responders, students will learn how to identify dangers and take smart actions, boosting their confidence and ability to stay composed when seconds matter.
Self-defense and personal safety skills: Training students in self-defense is more than just a safety measure—it’s an empowerment tool. Schools should teach students how to protect themselves and how to react in stressful situations. By focusing on the importance of staying calm, reporting suspicious activities, and following authority instructions, schools can ensure students are always alert and ready to act swiftly in any emergency scenario.
Fostering mental resilience and emotional support: Alongside physical preparedness, emotional well-being plays a crucial role in handling bomb threats. Schools must offer mental health support and resilience-building programs to help students manage stress and anxiety. With counseling resources and emotional coping strategies, students will not only be better equipped to face potential threats but will also develop the mental toughness to stay strong during such challenging times.
