Chandigarh: Panic gripped Punjab’s Mohali on Tuesday after several private schools received bomb threat emails that also mentioned the Fortis Hospital, prompting large-scale security checks by police and anti-sabotage teams.
According to officials, schools were immediately evacuated and bomb disposal squads, dog units and local police conducted extensive searches across the premises. No explosive or suspicious material was found at any location, and the threats were later declared a hoax.
Evacuations and Immediate Security Response
Security checks were also carried out at Fortis Hospital. Non-essential services were temporarily suspended during the sweep, while critical medical services continued. The hospital was already under heightened security as Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had recently been admitted there. Additional police personnel were deployed in and around the facility as a precaution.
This is not the first such incident. Last week, 16 private schools in Mohali received similar threat emails, which also turned out to be fake after detailed inspections. In recent weeks, schools in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and parts of Haryana have reported comparable emails, all of which were later found to be hoaxes.
Certified Cyber Crime Investigator Course Launched by Centre for Police Technology
Fortis Hospital Also Under Security Watch, Cyber Probe Underway
Investigative agencies have launched a cyber probe to trace the origin of the emails. Cyber cell teams are analysing email headers, IP logs and server trails to determine whether the messages were sent from within the country or routed through foreign networks. Officials suspect a coordinated attempt to spread panic rather than a credible terror threat.
Police have directed school administrations to strictly follow security protocols, report any suspicious communication immediately and keep evacuation and mock-drill plans ready. Parents have been urged not to panic and to rely only on official information.
Pattern of Repeated Hoax Emails
Authorities said repeated hoax threats place unnecessary pressure on emergency resources and create avoidable public fear. Those responsible will face strict action under relevant provisions of the IT Act and criminal law once identified.
Officials reiterated that all institutions are currently safe and the situation is under control, though security surveillance has been intensified at schools and other sensitive establishments as a precautionary measure.
