Panic gripped several parts of Ahmedabad on Wednesday morning after at least a dozen prominent private schools received threatening emails claiming bombs were planted on their premises. The scare led to immediate evacuations and a massive response from city police and bomb disposal squads, though no suspicious items were found after thorough inspections.
Immediate Response and School Evacuations
The alarming emails prompted school administrations to swiftly alert the police and initiate safety protocols. Rohit Chaudhary, the District Education Officer (DEO) for Ahmedabad city, issued an official advisory, urging schools to maintain contact with law enforcement and take necessary steps without spreading undue panic. The advisory specifically listed the twelve schools that received the threatening communication.
Police teams, along with bomb disposal squads and sniffer dog units, rushed to the affected campuses. They conducted exhaustive searches of classrooms, playgrounds, and other areas. As a precautionary measure, some roads leading to these schools were cordoned off, restricting traffic movement.
School Administrations and Parents React
School principals and directors described a calm but urgent evacuation process. Deepak Gautam, Principal of DAV International School in Makarba, stated they received the email at 9:28 am on their official ID and immediately informed police via emergency number 112. Students were calmly gathered in the playground in batches, starting with the youngest, before being sent home early.
Similarly, Manan Choksi, director of Udgam Schools, confirmed they shared the email with police and followed their advice to evacuate. Parents were promptly alerted through various communication channels, with many arriving to pick up their children. Some schools that did not receive threats also declared early dispersal as a safety drill, using the situation to assess their emergency preparedness.
Official Assurance and Ongoing Investigation
Jitu Vaghani, Cabinet Minister and state government spokesperson, addressed the situation, assuring parents of the police department's vigilance. He confirmed that all threatened schools were thoroughly checked and nothing suspicious was found. The schools were shut as a precautionary measure for the day.
The minister revealed that the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has launched a probe to trace the origin of the emails and identify the sender, determining whether the threats were genuine or a malicious hoax. By around 1 pm, inspections at most schools were completed.
All schools named in the advisory are expected to operate as per their usual timings on Thursday, with authorities confirming the all-clear. The principal of DAV International School confirmed that everyone has been informed that nothing was found and normalcy has been restored.
The list of schools that received the bomb threat email includes: Maharaja Agrasen School Gurukul, Zydus School Vejalpur, DAV School Makarba, Mahatma Gandhi International School Mithakhali, Ahmedabad International School in Bodakdev, Udgam School for Children in Thaltej, Zebar School for Children in Thaltej, JG International on Sola Road, Sattva Vikas Sindhu Bhawan, Nirman School in Vastrapur, Prakash School in Bodakdev, and Mount Carmel School on Ashram Road.
