Summer Fields School of South Delhi receives hoax bomb threat

A private school in the Greater Kailash area of South Delhi on August 2 received a bomb threat via email, which was later confirmed to be a hoax, officials said.

The threat, which was received around midnight, claimed a bomb had been planted at Summer Fields School. In response, the school followed standard operating procedures (SOPs) by promptly evacuating students and notifying authorities.

“We received the email late last night and took immediate action by evacuating the students as per the SOP within ten minutes. We promptly informed the police and district administration. We are grateful for the swift response and support from the police,” Shalini Agarwal, the principal of Summer Fields School said.

She said that both police and bomb squad teams are on-site, conducting a thorough search of the school premises. “There was no panic among the parents,” she added.

“Law enforcement agencies, including a bomb detection team and a dog squad, were dispatched to inspect the school thoroughly. After an extensive search, the threat was deemed a hoax, but investigations are ongoing,” Delhi Police said.

In response to a series of similar hoax bomb threats received by schools in the Delhi-NCR region, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs emphasized the importance of having detailed protocols and SOPs for such emergencies in May 2024.

The home secretary urged improved coordination between the Delhi Police and schools to mitigate the effects of false alarms and reduce unnecessary panic. The ministry also highlighted the need for enhanced security measures, such as installing CCTV cameras and regularly monitoring school emails to better handle potential threats.