Bomb Threat: Schools on target! Frightened parents rushed to schools to pick up kids, Further confusion persists about sending their wards to school or not

Delhi NCR: May 1, 2024, marked a black day for the parents living in Delhi NCR. Unlike each other day, mothers packed the kids’ lunch boxes with their favourite snacks and fruits and fathers dropped their kids at the bus stand with waving hands without knowing that within hours they would go under severe stress of something unexpected.

Schools received bomb threats via email, viral in a few minutes

Innumerable schools in Delhi NCR including Noida and Greater Noida West received a bomb threat via email on Wednesday morning, after which the schools decided to inform the parents and start the safe mass evacuations. The schools were alert after the threat, sending children back home on priority, and informing parents about the emergency pop-up.

In Noida, 4 schools received the threat

In Noida, four schools received the threat of a bomb blast. The DPS schools were the main target which included the DPS, Sector 30, Noida and DPS, Knowledge Park 5, Greater Noida West. DPS Schools started sending the kids back home as they got the mail and informed the parents. The bomb disposal squad also reached DPS school. The arrival of the bomb squad created an utter sense of panic in the atmosphere.

After the threat, the school was running smoothly till the parent’s arrival

Sandhya Awasthi, Principal of Delhi Public School, Greater Noida, says, “The school kept running normally to avoid any kind of panic. We have not received any mail. But for the safer side, a message has been sent to parents that there is no need to worry. The responsibility of the children lies with the school administration.”

Message sent to parents to pick the ward

After Delhi Public School, Greater Noida West, Delhi World Public School, Aster Public School and Ryan International School also sent messages to parents asking them to receive their children from school as soon as possible.

In Delhi, Police received information at night and were alert

In New Delhi, the Police had received information about this from many school managements of Delhi late in the night. After this, the schools informed the parents and asked them not to send their children. Those who reached were turned back. No suspects have been found anywhere yet. The search was going on in the five schools of Dwarka district where such information had been received. Mail was sent to schools on the same pattern, Delhi and Noida police started an investigation, and nothing suspicious was found yet.

Similar bomb threats in these schools

Delhi Police stated that the bomb threat was received by Delhi Public School’s (DPS) Dwarka and Vasant Kunj units, Mother Marry School in East Mayur Vihar, Sanskriti School, Amity School in Pushp Vihar and DAV School in South West Delhi, among others. DPS Noida also received a similar bomb threat.

Everything is quite in control

Specialised units including bomb detection teams and personnel from the Delhi Fire Service were swiftly mobilised to these schools to take necessary actions to ensure the safety of students and staff.

In control, but parents are not sure whether to send their kids to school or not

After this panicked day, there is an utter sense of discomfort and confusion among parents about whether to send their wards to school or not. Many schools have issued notices and have sent them to the parents’ WhatsApp. DPS KP V Principal Manju Verma has issued a circular stating that tomorrow there will be no holiday and there will be a regular school. However, some parents are still afraid to send their wards to school. Shalini from Greater Noida West says, “There is no confirmed mail received yet, so better not to send kids to school.” However many parents are feeling positive and trust the system. Sudhir Sinha, a parent says, ” I don’t think there is any point in holding kids for such hoax and making them feel fearful.”