Bomb threat in Delhi schools: Frustrated parents want stringent action against culprits

New Delhi: Parents vented their frustration and concern over repeated instances of bomb threats at educational institutes in Delhi as they urged the authorities to identify and take stringent action against the culprits, after five private schools received hoax emails on Wednesday.

This was the third consecutive day that education institutes in the national capital were targeted with bomb threats, which later turned out to be hoaxes.

A call about the email threatening to blow up St Thomas School in Dwarka was received at 5.26 am on Wednesday by the fire control, Vasant Valley School in Vasant Kunj got it at 6.30 am, Mother International in Hauz Khas at 8.12 am, and Richmond Global School in Paschim Vihar at 8.11 am, a fire services officer said.

Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Lodhi Estate also received a threatening email, a senior police officer said, adding the school was thoroughly checked and nothing suspicious has been found.

The bomb threats prompted precautionary evacuations and led to anxious moments for parents who rushed in to take their children home.

At St Thomas School in Dwarka, which received two threats in less than 24 hours, Rakesh Arora, the father of a 12-year-old student, said, "Schools receiving bomb threats is very worrying. It not only creates fear but also disrupts the children's studies.

"These may turn out to be hoaxes, but as parents, we can't help but be scared," he said.

Anita Mehra, a mother waiting outside St Thomas School, said the uncertainty was deeply unsettling. "We keep hearing that these threats are fake, but how can any parent stay calm? The moment I got the call, I dropped everything and rushed here. My child was also worried when I picked her up." Outside Vasant Valley School, a parent said he rushed to the school after watching the news.

Aprajita Gautam, the president of the Delhi Parents Association, expressed serious concern over the repeated threats.

"We are all deeply concerned and anxious over the bomb threats received by schools for the third consecutive day. The safety and security of our children are paramount, and such incidents are utterly unacceptable," Gautam said.

She urged the authorities to take immediate and stringent measures to identify and apprehend the culprits. Parents and students alike are living in fear, and it is essential to restore a sense of security in educational institutions, Gautam added.

In total, 10 bomb threat emails have been received by nine schools in the city in the three days.

On Monday, three schools in the national capital received bomb threats, which were later declared a hoax by authorities. The threats were sent via email in the early hours of Monday to CRPF schools in Sector 16, Dwarka, and Prashant Vihar, and the Navy Children School in Chanakyapuri.

The next day, St Stephen's College and St Thomas School received bomb threats through email, but those later turned out to be hoaxes.