There was a brief but large-scale evacuation of the Gurugram Mini Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon following a bomb scare. The alert was raised when an e-mail threat of an explosive substance was received on the official ID of the Deputy Commissioner, prompting quick response from the police and emergency services.
Security forces, including the police and bomb disposal squad, carefully combed the compound. There were no explosives discovered in the sweep, authorities said.
“The bomb scare expressed in the received email has been proven to be false and baseless. It was a rumour, but we do not take any situation lightly,”
– DC Ajay Kumar told PTI.
The building was evacuated around 2 pm as a precautionary measure. Firefighting crews, ambulance staff, and civil defence personnel were placed on standby while they searched to ensure public safety.
After a series of hours of meticulous checking, officials declared the region secure, stating the threat was a hoax. However, officials insisted all threats are treated seriously.
Safety of citizens is the responsibility of the administration. A cyber investigation has been launched into the matter,
the DC added. The government is trying to find the person who sent the threatening email.
SOP Issued for Delhi Schools Following Recent Bomb Threats
New guidelines aim to bolster school security across Delhi
The hoax comes shortly after Delhi’s Directorate of Education (DoE) released a 115-point Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to handle bomb threats in schools. The report, which was drafted at the behest of the Delhi High Court and in liaison with the Ministry of Education, Delhi Police, and NDMA, highlights major preventive and response actions.
The SOP mandates regular mock drills, installation of monitoring equipment, and strict entry control in all aided, minority, government-administered, and unaided private schools.
Evacuation routes and emergency shelter areas are planned in advance with facilities for disabled students. In addition, parents have been warned against rumor-mongering and providing updated contact information to enable quick communication in an emergency.
The SOP defines the responsibilities of various emergency services:
Delhi Police: Secure the area, control crowds, and assess the threat (not handle explosives).
Fire Department: Keep an eye out for emergencies.
Traffic Police: Ensure safe passage of emergency vehicles. These incidents indicate growing concern with hoax threats and the heightened state of preparedness in response required within institutions.
