A wave of panic and heightened security swept across the capital this morning as St. Thomas School in Dwarka and Vasant Valley School in Vasant Kunj received bomb threats via email, sparking immediate evacuations and large-scale police deployment. These schools are the latest targets in what is becoming a disturbing series of hoax threats affecting educational institutions across Delhi.
Evacuation and Emergency Response in Full Swing
As soon as the emails were received, both St. Thomas School and Vasant Valley School initiated emergency evacuation procedures. Students, teachers, and staff were swiftly moved out of the premises under strict guidance. Delhi Police, along with the Bomb Disposal Squad, Dog Squad, and Cyber Crime Unit, responded to the threat with full protocol implementation.
Eyewitnesses reported scenes of urgency as children were ushered to safety. Fire tenders, ambulances, and bomb disposal units surrounded both campuses. By mid-morning, the Fire Department confirmed that no suspicious objects had been found in either location.
Five Schools Targeted in a Single Day
In an alarming development, authorities confirmed that five schools received similar threats today alone. Apart from St. Thomas and Vasant Valley, Mother’s International School (Hauz Khas), Richmond Global School (Paschim Vihar), and Sardar Patel Vidyalaya (Lodhi Estate) were also targeted via email.
Security was immediately stepped up at each institution. Police cordoned off the areas, while bomb squads conducted thorough room-by-room sweeps. Cyber experts are currently examining the source of the emails, which preliminary analysis suggests were routed via foreign proxy servers.
Pattern of Threats Over the Last 72 Hours
Over the last three days, at least 10 schools and one college have received similar threats, pointing towards a deliberate effort to create chaos and fear in the capital’s academic institutions. On Tuesday, threatening emails were also sent to St. Stephen’s College (North Campus) and St. Thomas School in Chhawla. The emails mentioned that IEDs and RDX explosives had been planted, specifically citing the college library as a target.
Delhi Police’s North District DCP Raja Banthia confirmed that an email to St. Stephen’s College claimed that four IED bombs and two packets of RDX were placed and scheduled to explode at 2:00 PM. The entire college was evacuated and searched thoroughly. The result: no explosives were discovered.
Security Agencies Call It a Hoax – But Investigation Intensifies
While no actual explosives have been found in any of the affected locations, the psychological impact on students, parents, and staff is significant. Police officials are labeling the incidents as email hoaxes, but not without serious implications. Senior officers believe that the sender intends to disrupt normalcy and incite public panic.
The Cyber Crime Cell has begun tracing IP addresses and identifying digital fingerprints associated with the email threats. Initial findings reveal that VPN masking and foreign IP proxies have been used, making tracking efforts more complex. However, multiple leads are being pursued, and investigators are not ruling out copycat behavior or organized cyber harassment.
Timeline of Threats in 2025
The latest threats echo a pattern established earlier in 2024 and 2025, where schools, hospitals, and colleges across Delhi-NCR received similar hoax emails. Below is a snapshot of the timeline:
July 14 – Navy Children School and CRPF School receive bomb threat emails. Declared hoax.
July 15 – St. Stephen’s College and St. Thomas School, Chhawla, threatened. Evacuated and cleared.
July 16 – St. Thomas School (Dwarka), Vasant Valley School (Vasant Kunj), Mother’s International, Richmond Global, and Sardar Patel Vidyalaya all receive bomb threats.
The Delhi Police Commissioner’s Office has stated that it is working with central intelligence agencies to determine whether the email threats are part of a larger disruptive campaign, possibly involving cyber terrorists or disgruntled individuals.
School Management and Parental Reactions
The administrations of the affected schools have released statements reassuring parents about the safety of students. St. Thomas School, Dwarka, issued a public notice stating that all students were evacuated safely, and that the school is cooperating fully with investigating agencies.
Parents gathered outside the schools in large numbers, some expressing fear, others anger. Many criticized the repeated failure of cybersecurity measures to prevent such threats, while others questioned the psychological toll on children being forced to relive evacuations and drills repeatedly.
Calls for Tighter Cybersecurity and Legal Action
In the wake of these incidents, educational institutions across Delhi are tightening digital security protocols. Experts are calling for:
Mandatory cyber monitoring units in every school.
Enhanced collaboration between schools and law enforcement.
Swift legal amendments to penalize email-based terrorism.
Inclusion of psychological support programs for affected children and staff.
According to cybersecurity analyst Dr. Ritika Deshmukh, these threats are likely being sent by individuals exploiting free email platforms with fake IDs, routed via encrypted networks. “The motive appears to be disruption,” she says, “but the method reflects a deeper security lapse that must be urgently addressed.”
What the Law Says About Bomb Hoaxes
Under Indian law, sending false bomb threat messages is a serious criminal offense. Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Information Technology Act can be invoked:
Section 505 – Statements conducing to public mischief.
Section 507 – Criminal intimidation via anonymous communication.
Section 66F (IT Act) – Cyber terrorism, punishable by life imprisonment.
The Delhi Police Legal Cell has confirmed that the culprits, once identified, will be booked under multiple sections, and that prosecution will be swift.
Conclusion: A City on Alert
While the physical threat in all cases so far has been non-existent, the mental and emotional strain on students, educators, and families cannot be dismissed. Delhi remains on high alert, and educational institutions are reviewing security frameworks.
We continue to monitor this developing story as Delhi Police intensifies its investigation into this wave of cyber terrorism targeting the capital’s academic sanctuaries.
We urge all citizens to remain calm, report any suspicious activity, and refrain from spreading unverified information on social media, which may add to public anxiety.
