Bomb threats rattle Shimla schools, investigation underway
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Shimla, July 23,
A wave of panic swept across Shimla on Wednesday as multiple private and convent schools reportedly received bomb threats via email.
” Today morning, several schools in Shimla received bomb threat emails, causing panic among students, parents and staff,” stated Ashok Tewari, Director General of Police. Adding that, ” the State Police and State CID, along with bomb squads, sprang into immediate action and thoroughly investigated these threats. Fortunately, all threats have been confirmed as hoaxes,” stated the DGP.
He said that the State Police promptly responded to ensure the safety and security of students and staff. Detailed and extensive searches were conducted by the Bomb Disposal Teams, and no explosives or suspicious materials were found. Adding,” The State Police is actively tracing the sender of these emails and coordinating with police in other states where similar threats were received.”
The DGP further added,” I appeal to the public to remain calm and not spread unnecessary panic and rumours. The State Police is fully prepared and competent to deal with such threats, assured the State police Chief.
He said that the that State police will leave no stone unturned in bringing the sender of these malicious emails to justice. Necessary criminal action in the entire episode is underway. We are committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of citizens, he stated.
The schools include Bishop Cotton School, St Edward’s School, Sacred Heart Convent School in Dhalli, Saraswati Paradise School in Sanjauli and Loreto Convent Tara Hall.
Noteworthy that this latest scare comes just two weeks after multiple district courts in Shimla (Chakkar), Sirmaur (Nahan), and Kullu were similarly targeted on July 9, triggering evacuations and heavy security checks.
The recurring pattern of such threats has raised serious concern in Himachal Pradesh, which has long been regarded as one of the most peaceful states in the country. Since April this year, the state has been grappling with a disturbing series of bomb hoax emails targeting high-profile government offices and institutions.
The first threat in the series emerged on April 16, 2025, aimed at the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat in Shimla and the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mandi. A full-scale emergency response was launched. Just nine days later, bomb threats were emailed to the DC offices in Chamba and Hamirpur. On May 2, the Kullu DC office was targeted, followed by twin threats to the Shimla Secretariat on May 25 and 26.
So far, none of the threats have materialized into real danger. All have been declared false alarms after thorough sweeps by bomb squads and police. Cyber forensic teams suspect these emails may be part of a coordinated hoax campaign, although the perpetrators remain unidentified.
However, the psychological toll of these incidents is beginning to show. Repeated evacuations, disruption of government and judicial operations, and heightened public anxiety are straining both manpower and morale. Officials are reportedly reviewing internal protocols to strengthen the state’s cyber threat detection and emergency response capabilities.
Despite the absence of actual bombs, authorities continue to take each threat seriously. “We cannot afford to ignore any alert,” a senior police officer stated on condition of anonymity. “But we are also exploring leads that suggest these could be the work of a mischief-maker attempting to disrupt public life.”
With today’s school-related threats, the total number of hoax incidents has risen to at least nine since April—marking an unprecedented security challenge for Himachal Pradesh. As investigations continue, the public is urged to remain calm and cooperative with authorities.
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