Third consecutive day of bomb threats hits Delhi schools, panic grips parents

A fresh wave of bomb threats sent via email to five private schools in Delhi caused panic and triggered large-scale evacuations on July 16, as security agencies rushed to respond.

Authorities confirmed that this was the third straight day that educational institutions in the national capital were targeted with similar threats. So far, none of the emails have led to the discovery of any explosives.

According to officials, a threat email was received by St Thomas School in Dwarka around 5.26 am, followed by messages sent to Vasant Valley School in Vasant Kunj at 6.30 am, Mother International in Hauz Khas at 8.12 am, and Richmond Global School in Paschim Vihar at 8.11 am. Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Lodhi Estate also received a bomb threat later in the morning.

A senior police officer said that all schools were promptly evacuated, and full-scale security checks were carried out with assistance from the bomb disposal squad, dog squad, and cyber experts. "Nothing suspicious has been found so far," the officer added.

In a message to parents, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya said, "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 sanitization of the premises."

This marked the second bomb threat for St Thomas School in less than 24 hours. Overall, officials said that 10 threat emails have been sent to nine schools in the last three days. Staff members present overnight at the schools were safely escorted out as a precaution.

The repeated hoax threats have triggered political outrage. Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized the central government, accusing it of negligence and inaction.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, in a post on X, said, "Neither Home Minister Amit Shah nor his four-engine governments have any concern for the people of Delhi or their children. The BJP is bent on turning Delhi into a lawless jungle."

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia also voiced concerns, saying, "Delhi schools are receiving bomb threats almost every month. Parents and children, everyone is scared; neither has anyone been caught nor has the government provided any response."

"Has the entire intelligence system failed? Are all intelligence agencies only busy keeping an eye on opposition leaders and filing false cases?" he asked in another post on X.

Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said the repeated threats are creating widespread fear among parents.

"Today, a private school in Delhi received a threat again; messages were sent to parents to pick up their children from school, and chaos erupted everywhere. Now, there is panic to take the children home. Will the system and administration continue like this?" he wrote.