Bomb threats hit over 45 Delhi schools, spark panic among students and parents

File Photo

More than 45 schools across Delhi received bomb threats on Friday, triggering panic among the students and their parents, reported news agency PTI.

Delhi Police and other quick-response authorities have launched search and evacuation operations, an official said.

This is the fourth such day this week when schools in the capital received bomb threats.

Police, along with bomb disposal and dog squads, and the fire department are rushing to the different schools and initiating the evacuation process.

So far, bomb threats have been received at Maxfort Junior School and Guru Nanak School in Pitampura; six schools in Dwarka, St Thomas School, GD Goenka School, DIS Edge School, Modern International School, Dwarka International School and La Petite Montessori; Richmond School and Doon Public School in Paschim Vihar; six schools in Rohini, MRG School in Sector 3, Delhi Public School, Sovereign Public School and Heritage Public School in Sector 24, Delhi International Public School in Sector 9, Abhinav Public School in Sector 3 and The Heritage School; Summerfield International School in South Delhi, reported PTI.

Others include Bharti Public School in Swasthya Vihar, Hamdard Public School in Sangam Vihar, St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School in Raj Niwas Marg, North Delhi Public School in Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi Public School in Vikas Puri, Mira Nursery School in Janakpuri, Prudence School, The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar, Delhi Public School on Mathura Road, Mater Dei School in Tilak Lane, reported PTI.

Delhi Jain Public School in Palam, Junior Delhi School, Delhi Public School in R K Puram, East of Kailash and Vasant Vihar, The British School in Chanakyapuri, Delhi City School in Bawana, Faith Academy in Prasad Nagar, Amity International School in Saket, , Cambridge Foundation School in Rajouri Garden, Big Feather International School, Kulachi Hansraj Model School in Ashok Vihar also received bomb threats, reported PTI.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has slammed the BJP over the matter.

"More than 20 schools have received bomb threats today! Think of the trauma that children, parents and teachers would be going through. BJP controls all 4-engines of governance in Delhi, and is yet not able to provide any safety or security to our children! Shocking!" she said in a post on X.

On Thursday, multiple security agencies conducted mock drills at 10 locations to assess their readiness for any emergency.

Multiple teams from Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services, National Security Guard, Special Cell and other stakeholder agencies swung into action during the full-scale security exercise.

At Kashmere Gate Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), the agencies simulated a bomb blast scenario, alerted by a staged emergency call.

Responding swiftly, Delhi Police personnel cordoned off the area, while loudspeaker announcements instructed commuters and staff to vacate the terminal. Police vans and Quick Reaction Teams were rushed to the scene.

The official said that the scenario was designed to test every aspect of emergency response -- from receiving a threat call to identifying and isolating the danger zone, evacuating people, checking for secondary threats and controlling a potential riot-like situation.

Specialised units like the bomb disposal and dog squads carried out anti-sabotage checks at the terminal. Metal detectors and hand-held scanners were used to frisk people, while luggage was screened using X-ray baggage scanners. Officials also inspected hotel logbooks in the vicinity to check for any suspicious entries, a standard procedure during real-life anti-terror operations.

(With inputs from PTI)