2 Delhi Hospitals Receive Bomb Threat, Following Recent School Scare: Authorities Deploy Response Teams
Bomb threats sent via email targeted Delhi airport and several hospitals in the national capital on Sunday, leading authorities to dispatch numerous bomb disposal squads and fire tenders as a precautionary measure.
Fire officials reported that the Burari Hospital was the initial facility to notify authorities about the bomb threat at 3:15 pm.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) M K Meena stated that Burari Hospital received an email concerning a bomb threat, prompting the dispatch of local police, bomb squad, and dog squad to the site. Teams are currently conducting checks at the hospital, with no suspicious findings reported thus far.
The second notification regarding a bomb threat was received from Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital around 4:26 pm. Immediate deployment of two fire engines was initiated at both locations, with search operations ongoing.
Local police and bomb disposal teams were rushed to the Hospitals
Police later disclosed that eight to ten other hospitals, including Hindu Rao Hospital, received similar threatening emails.
The Delhi fire services chief revealed that the notification regarding the bomb threat at Indira Gandhi International Airport was received around 6:15 pm.
“We were alerted around 6:15 pm regarding a bomb threat at IGI Airport. Firefighters have been swiftly dispatched to the location,” stated Garg.
This incident comes shortly after a recent surge in similar threats in both Delhi and Ahmedabad. Just days ago, over 130 schools across Delhi-NCR received identical emails, claiming the presence of explosives on their premises. These threats caused widespread panic, leading to immediate evacuations and thorough searches of the educational institutions.
To trace the exact source of the emails, the Delhi Police enlisted the help of Russian mailing service company Mail.ru via Interpol. An FIR was filed against unidentified individuals, stating that the intention behind the bomb hoax emails was to create mass panic and disrupt public order in the national capital.
The hoax bomb threats prompted the Union home ministry to advocate for the development of a comprehensive protocol and standard operating procedures (SOP) to address similar situations in the future. Earlier this week, the home secretary urged close coordination between the Delhi Police and schools to prevent unnecessary panic arising from misinformation.
The ministry further emphasized the importance of bolstering security measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras and regular monitoring of emails in schools.
According to a statement, the Home Secretary urged the Delhi Police and schools to collaborate closely to establish an efficient response mechanism, ensuring that misinformation does not lead to unwarranted panic.
“The Home Secretary also underscored the necessity of strengthening security measures, including the implementation of CCTV cameras and consistent monitoring of emails within schools. The meeting was attended by the chief secretary and Delhi Police commissioner,” the statement added.
Also read: Bomb threats in Delhi schools: Spark Panic and Evacuations