NEW DELHI: Six schools in Delhi received bomb threats early on Friday, sparking panic and chaos as parents rushed to pick up their children.
The latest wave of threats follows a similar incident on December 9, when at least 44 schools received bomb threat emails. Authorities had later deemed those threats to be hoaxes.
According to a Delhi Fire Services official, the first alert regarding the threats was received at 4.21 am, with subsequent calls coming in throughout the morning.
Police, fire department personnel, bomb detection teams and dog squads were dispatched to the schools to conduct thorough checks, the official added.
Parents who had come to drop off their children were seen taking them back from the school gates, while those whose children were already on campus rushed to pick them up.
In response to the threats, school authorities shifted to online classes for the day.
Rajiv Solanki, chairman of Venkateshwar Global School in Rohini, said, “When we received the email, the first thing we did was inform the police.
However, by that time, the students had already started arriving. We immediately dispersed them, informed their parents, and shifted today’s classes online from 11 am.”
He also noted that the school had previously received a similar threat, which not only instilled fear among parents and students but also disrupted studies.
The schools targeted in Friday’s threats include Bhatnagar International School in Paschim Vihar, Cambridge School in Srinivaspuri, DPS Amar Colony in East of Kailash, South Delhi Public School in Defence Colony, Delhi Police Public School in Safdarjung, and Venkateshwar Global School.
A police source revealed that the threatening emails were sent at 12.54 am, with the sender referencing “parent-teachers’ meeting” and “sports day” activities.
The sender also warned that “schools will face bomb blasts” on Friday and Saturday, according to the source.
Madhavi Goswami, principal of Cambridge School, said she discovered the email during a routine check and alerted the police around 5.50 am.
“They responded promptly, assuring us of a thorough investigation. We informed parents about the situation and shifted all classes online for the day,” she said.
Karmveer, a guard at South Delhi Public School, said he received a message at 7.20 am, after which parents bringing their children to school were asked to return.
“Only a few students were already on campus, and they were also sent back home,” he said.
