At least a dozen schools in Noida received bomb threat emails on Thursday, 19 February 2026, while Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board examinations were underway, leading to swift evacuations, searches by bomb disposal squads and police, and heightened security protocols. Similar emails were also reported at three schools in Delhi, prompting emergency responses there as well.
Students, teachers and staff were moved to safe zones during search operations, with authorities confirming no suspicious object found so far, but investigations are ongoing to trace the origin and credibility of the emails. Parents were alarmed and concerned, yet urged by officials to remain calm and rely on verified information.
Threat Emails Trigger Panic During Ongoing Board Exams
On Thursday morning, schools across the Delhi-NCR region were thrown into alarm when bomb threat emails landed in the official communication systems of numerous educational institutions. In Noida, nearly 12 schools reported receiving identical or similar messages claiming that explosives had been planted on campus, forcing authorities into immediate action. Police teams, alongside bomb disposal squads, sniffer dog units and fire services, rushed to the sites to conduct thorough security sweeps of classrooms, corridors and open grounds.
Security agencies prioritised evacuations, with students and teachers being calmly escorted to designated safe areas as precautionary measures. In some cases, normal activities including examinations were temporarily paused until authorities completed detailed checks.
Officials emphasised that such protocols are standard practice in dealing with potential threats, especially when minors are involved. “Safety of students and staff is our highest priority,” a senior police official told reporters, underscoring the seriousness with which every threat is being treated.
The timing of the threats coinciding with CBSE board exams amplified anxiety among parents and teachers. Many guardians arrived at school gates seeking updates, while management teams maintained communication to reassure families. So far, no explosive device or hazardous material has been discovered during the searches, but operations continued into the afternoon to thoroughly clear all areas before normal routines could resume.
Similar Alerts in Delhi Heighten Regional Concern
Authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR) reported that at least three schools in Delhi received bomb threat emails on the same day including institutions in Dwarka and Paschim Enclave prompting similar precautionary responses. Police and emergency teams deployed to these campuses conducted comprehensive inspections as fire tenders and rescue units stood by in support. Officials in Delhi confirmed that, like in Noida, no suspicious items were found in preliminary checks, even as detailed sanitisation drives continued.
The incidents in Delhi and Noida form part of a broader pattern of hoax bomb threats targeting educational institutions across North India over the past several months. In early January, nearly 20 schools in Noida were evacuated after bomb threat emails were traced through cyber investigation to servers in the United States, and subsequently linked to a residence in Greater Noida’s Bisrakh area where an illegal online betting racket was allegedly being operated. Six individuals were arrested in that case, accused of using fake email accounts and VPN services to conceal their identities and motive.
Further back in the current academic year, similar bomb threat emails caused evacuations and heightened security across multiple schools in Delhi and NCR, underscoring the recurring nature of these hoax campaigns and their disruptive impact on examinations and school life.
Investigation Intensifies as Cyber Teams Trace Digital Footprints
Law enforcement agencies have launched a multi-layered investigation to determine the origin and authenticity of the threat emails. Cyber forensic teams are analysing email headers, IP addresses and routing trails, with the aim of identifying whether the messages originated domestically or were routed through overseas servers. Authorities are also exploring links to past incidents as part of efforts to uncover any organised network behind the threats.
School administrators and local police have filed formal complaints under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and Indian Penal Code provisions on criminal intimidation and public mischief, paving the way for legal action against those responsible once identified. Officials highlighted that even if past cases were ultimately hoaxes, the risk cannot be dismissed until all technical leads are explored and verified.
While operations proceeded on the ground, parents were urged not to share unverified content circulating on social media, which can unnecessarily fuel rumors and panic. Police spokespeople stressed the importance of relying on verified updates from school authorities and official channels.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Bomb threat hoaxes targeting schools especially amid critical examinations like the CBSE board exams are a stark reminder of how easily fear can disrupt education and unsettle families. These incidents, whether ultimately false alarms or cleverly masked threats, have real consequences: they interrupt learning, strain emergency services, and place psychological burdens on children and guardians alike.
While law enforcement rightly acts with urgency to protect lives and infrastructure, there is an equally important conversation to be had about digital responsibility, community resilience and emotional support for students. Authorities, educators, parents and online platforms must come together to strengthen cyber awareness, prevent misuse of communication technologies, and promote transparent information flow during crises.
