Gandhinagar: Authorities and the Vadodara district administration have sprung into action following bomb threat emails received by three prominent schools operated under the Navrachana group. The affected institutions include Navrachana International School in Bhayli, Navrachana School in Sama, and Navrachana Vidhyani Vidyalaya in Vadodara.
The incident unfolded early in the morning when the principal of the school received threatening emails, alarming both school authorities and local law enforcement. Kashmira Jaiswal, Principal of Navrachana International School in Bhayli, recounted, "At 4:30 am, I received a bomb threat email on my official ID. I immediately alerted the police, leading to a swift response and initiation of thorough investigations."
In response to the threat, teams comprising the local police, LCB, and rural SOG swiftly mobilized to each school location, accompanied by bomb squad and dog squad units. Intensive searches of school premises, including vehicles such as buses, were conducted to ensure safety. As of now, no suspicious objects have been discovered.
DYSP Chetna Chaudhary confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating, "Teams have thoroughly searched Navrachana International School and other affected campuses, yet no credible threat has been identified." Despite the exhaustive searches, normal activities at Navrachana University, located within the school campus, continued with heightened security measures in place.
The situation caused significant disruption as Navrachana International School declared a temporary closure pending police clearance, while Navrachana University continued operations under stringent security protocols. Netra Shah, a student at Navrachana University, expressed concerns, saying, "We were informed about the bomb threat affecting the school but received no official notice for the university. Many students remain apprehensive about attending classes."
Parents, too, expressed worry over their children's safety. Jitendra Pandya, a parent, remarked, "We learned about the threat through news updates and are concerned for our children's safety. Despite assurances from authorities, many of us remain hesitant about sending our children to school amidst such threats."
Authorities have assured continuous monitoring of the situation, with strict security checks in place for all individuals entering Navrachana University premises. Bag checks and verification of identification cards are mandatory, while access to school buildings remains restricted pending further security clearances.
The incident at Navrachana schools echoes recent security concerns in educational institutions across the country, highlighting the need for robust safety protocols and swift response mechanisms to safeguard students, faculty, and staff from potential threats.
