In a deeply unsettling development, nearly 100 educational institutions across Delhi and Bengaluru have received bomb threat emails over the past week, leading to mass evacuations, tightened security, and widespread alarm among parents and students.

Bengaluru Schools on High Alert

At least 40 schools in Bengaluru were sent threatening emails early Friday morning, mirroring a similar wave of hoax threats that hit Delhi just hours earlier. Schools in neighbourhoods like Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Kengeri were among the targeted locations, according to reports by India Today. The Bengaluru City Police quickly mobilised response teams, deploying bomb disposal units and sniffer dogs to sweep the school premises for any suspicious materials.

The threatening email bore the subject line “Bombs inside the school” and was reportedly sent from the email address roadkill333@atomicmail.io. In a disturbing message, the sender wrote, “The explosives are skillfully hidden, in black plastic bags. I will erase every last one of you from this world. Not a single soul will survive. I will gladly laugh when I will watch the news, only to see the parents show up at the school and to be greeted by the cold, dismembered bodies of their children.”

It further stated, “You all deserve to suffer. I truly hate my life, I will commit suicide after the news kick in. I will slit my throat and slit my wrists. I was never truly helped, psychiatrists, psychologists, no one has ever cared and no one will ever care…”

Delhi Schools Repeatedly Targeted Throughout the Week

On Friday morning alone, more than 45 schools in the national capital received similar emails, marking the fourth consecutive day of such incidents. Institutions such as St. Xavier’s Senior Secondary School in Civil Lines, Richmond Global School in Paschim Vihar, Abhinav Public School and The Sovereign School in Rohini were among those impacted.

Earlier in the week, schools such as Mother’s International School in Hauz Khas, Vasant Valley School in Vasant Kunj, and St. Thomas School in Dwarka had received similar threats. A growing list of affected schools includes Maxfort Junior School and Guru Nanak School in Pitampura, along with several others across Dwarka, Rohini, South and East Delhi.

On July 18 alone, threats were received by institutions like Summerfield International School, Delhi Public School in multiple locations, Faith Academy in Prasad Nagar, and The British School in Chanakyapuri. Despite comprehensive searches, no actual explosives were discovered, and authorities have confirmed that all threats have so far turned out to be hoaxes.

University of Delhi Also Targeted

The menace wasn’t limited to primary and secondary institutions. Earlier this week, St. Stephen’s College under the University of Delhi was also forced into emergency procedures after a threatening email claimed a bomb had been planted in its library. Delhi Police, fire services, and bomb squads conducted exhaustive checks but found no suspicious items.

Cyber Forensics Facing Tough Challenges

With Friday’s surge in emails, the number of schools affected by bomb threats across India has approached 100—around 60 of them located in Delhi alone. According to officials, the emails appear to have been routed through encrypted servers and VPNs, making it increasingly difficult to trace their origins.

A senior officer from the Delhi Police told PTI, “Tracking someone on the dark web is like chasing a shadow in a room full of mirrors. The moment you think you have found a lead, it vanishes behind another layer of anonymity.”

Cyber experts and digital forensic teams have joined hands with police units to dig into the communication trail left by the anonymous sender.

Authorities Respond Swiftly, Investigations Continue

In both cities, bomb squads, emergency personnel, and police units responded rapidly. School grounds were cordoned off and subjected to detailed searches. The coordinated efforts ensured the safety of students and staff, but the psychological impact has been significant.

Earlier this week, Delhi Police detained a 12-year-old student who allegedly sent a threatening email to St. Thomas School in Dwarka. The boy was counseled and later handed over to his family, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), Ankit Singh.

Despite the growing number of false alarms, the pattern and intensity of these threats have alarmed educational authorities and law enforcement alike. Investigations are ongoing, and institutions remain on high alert until the individual or group behind the threats is identified and apprehended.

Though no real explosives have been found, the threats have caused widespread panic, disrupted school operations, and raised serious concerns about digital security and mental health awareness. Authorities continue to treat each alert with urgency while pushing for stronger cyber monitoring and crisis readiness in schools.