Chandigarh: A wave of bomb threat emails sent to 30 schools across Chandigarh on Wednesday sparked panic among parents and students, prompting sharp criticism from the Chandigarh Parents’ Association (CPA), which said the episode exposed a dangerous gap in the city’s school safety preparedness.Although police later confirmed the threats were hoaxes, CPA president Nitin Goyal said the response of several schools and authorities reflected systemic failure of communication and crisis management.“Today was a live stress test of our school safety systems, and Chandigarh failed. Luck saved our children today, not protocols,” Goyal said, calling the incident an act of terror against children rather than a prank.According to the CPA, threatening emails were received by some schools as early as 8am, but evacuation decisions in several institutions were delayed by one to two hours. “In a potential disaster, the golden hour is critical. Children sat in classrooms while management debated whether the threat was real,” the association said.Parents, the CPA alleged, were the last to know, with some schools issuing vague circulars citing unforeseen circumstances instead of clearly stating the nature of the threat. “Hiding the truth does not prevent panic; it fuels rumours,” Goyal said.One parent, who requested anonymity, recounted that her daughter at her school was made to sit for nearly two hours despite the institution receiving information about the threat. “Junior classes were allowed to leave, but senior students were made to stay. It was extremely stressful,” she said.Dr Ashish Sharma, whose children study at a high school, said there was little clarity from the school about the evolving situation.
“Just as I was leaving for work, I received a message asking me to bring my child back. My biggest concern was that if children were made to wait outside with nowhere to go, especially in families where both parents are working, or if there was a stampede-like situation. The panic, in many ways, felt more dangerous than the threat itself,” he said.Another parent under the condition of anonymity revealed that they were asked to take their child back home by 10.30am, at 10.12am. The association also criticised the practice of asking parents to immediately rush to schools to pick up their children, warning it could block access for emergency responders. “If thousands of cars converge at once, ambulances and fire tenders could be trapped in traffic. In the chaos, there is also the risk of children leaving with the wrong person,” the statement said.The CPA has demanded the UT Administration enforce a Standard Reunification Protocol, including pre-designated safe zones away from school premises, the use of school buses for dispersal and clear messaging asking parents to wait until areas are secured.During the morning panic, the education department issued a note urging schools “to maintain calm and not create unnecessary panic.” It advised institutions to report threats to the police and “not to declare holidays without any verified basis,” adding that schools should remain vigilant while continuing regular academic operations.The CPA termed the advisory “bureaucratic and dangerous.” “How is a principal expected to verify a bomb threat in real time? Verification takes hours; a blast takes seconds. Precaution must come before protocol,” Goyal said.
