In the sweltering July heat of 2025, Bengaluru awoke to a nightmare that has become all too familiar across India’s urban landscape. On July 18, panic rippled through the Silicon Valley of India as 40 private schools received identical hoax bomb threat emails. The messages, laced with chilling details about planted explosives, forced immediate evacuations. Children were herded out into school playgrounds under the watchful eyes of frantic parents, while bomb squads and sniffer dogs combed through classrooms and corridors. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) swiftly took over, tracing the emails to anonymous sources, but the damage was done—classes were disrupted, and an entire city’s sense of security shattered. Just days later, on July 22, another school in the city fell victim to a similar email, prompting parents to rush to gates by 11:30 a.m., only for police to declare it a hoax by afternoon. Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru’s bustling gateway, wasn’t spared either; on July 26, it received yet another threat via email, leading to rigorous checks that grounded flights and delayed thousands of passengers.
This wasn’t an isolated incident in Karnataka. Between 2022 and 2024, the state logged 169 fake bomb threats, with 133 originating in Bengaluru alone, resulting in 10 arrests. Fast-forward to 2025, and the trend has escalated nationwide. In September alone, over 100 schools in Delhi received hoax threats on multiple occasions, turning playgrounds into evacuation zones and leaving parents in a perpetual state of dread. Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport faced a similar scare on September 28, with bomb disposal squads swarming the premises before deeming it safe. Chennai’s foreign consulates were targeted just days later, prompting cyber crime wings to assure the public of enhanced safety protocols. Mumbai Traffic Police’s helpline buzzed with a threat to “blow up the city” on September 4, later confirmed as a hoax. Even Gujarat’s High Court wasn’t immune, receiving an email threat on September 15 that necessitated a full sweep.
These aren’t relics of a bygone era of terrorism; they are the digital detritus of a hoax epidemic. In 2024, India recorded 977 hoax threats targeting schools, hospitals, airports, and courts—a 400% surge from previous years. By mid-2025, airlines alone had fielded over 500 such calls in October 2024, spilling into the new year with relentless frequency. What began as sporadic pranks has morphed into a national crisis, exploiting the anonymity of the internet to sow chaos. As Bengaluru’s schools reopened post-threat, principals whispered about “invisible enemies,” and parents formed WhatsApp groups to share vigilance tips. This is the new normal: a nation on edge, where every ping could herald panic. But why? And at what cost? This feature delves into the shadows of these hoaxes, uncovering their digital roots, psychological drivers, and the heavy toll they exact on India’s public life.
How Social Media and Anonymous Apps Are Being Misused
The inbox has become India’s most unwitting battleground. In Bengaluru’s July 2025 school scare, the threats arrived via Gmail, scripted with pseudo-technical jargon about “IEDs in two places like a puzzle,” referencing the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to lend authenticity. Across India, social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram channels have amplified this menace. Anonymous apps such as Signal and ProtonMail, designed for privacy, now shield hoaxers who broadcast threats to multiple recipients simultaneously. A single email thread can tag hundreds of schools, as seen in Delhi’s September 20 incident where over 100 institutions were hit before 9 a.m.
The surge traces back to late 2024, when hoaxers weaponized AI tools to generate convincing threats. In Karnataka, the CCB’s investigation into the 43-school July emails revealed patterns: senders used VPNs to mask IP addresses from servers in Southeast Asia, routing through Indian proxies to evade traceability. Nationally, the Ministry of Civil Aviation reported 999 threats to airlines by November 2024, many posted on unmoderated Reddit clones or dark web forums before being funneled to official channels. Social media’s role is insidious; a viral X post in August 2025 detailed “how to make a school panic for fun,” garnering 5,000 views before deletion, inspiring copycats in Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Anonymous apps exacerbate the issue. In Belagavi, Karnataka, a October 2024 airport threat originated from a burner Telegram account, delaying a Bengaluru-bound flight. Police trace these to “ghost users” who vanish after posting. The Hindu reported in December 2024 that 70% of hoaxes now involve digital means, up from 40% in 2022, driven by ease of access—anyone with a smartphone can spoof an email via free tools like Temp Mail. In Delhi, the September 12 High Court evacuation stemmed from a LinkedIn DM threatening multiple benches, highlighting professional networks’ vulnerability.
This digital proliferation isn’t random. Hoaxers exploit peak hours: mornings for schools, evenings for airports. Bengaluru’s engineering colleges received a “hydrogen-based IED” alert on October 4, 2024, via an anonymous app, forcing campus lockdowns. As India’s internet penetration hits 900 million users, the anonymity firewall grows thicker. Law enforcement grapples with jurisdictional silos—cyber cells in one state chase leads bouncing across borders. The result? A feedback loop where one hoax inspires legions, turning social media from connector to chaos engine. Experts warn that without platform accountability, this rise will only accelerate, ensnaring more innocents in its web.
Psychology Behind Bomb Threat Hoaxes: What Motivates the Callers?
Beneath the faceless emails lies a tangled psyche. In India, motivations for bomb hoaxes span thrill-seeking to deep-seated grievances, often rooted in isolation amplified by digital life. A July 2025 Delhi case traced a threat to seven schools to a 12-year-old boy undergoing mental health treatment; he confessed it was a “prank” to mimic online videos. Psychologists term this “copycat behavior,” where social media glorifies disruption, luring vulnerable youth.
Revenge ranks high. In Bengaluru’s airport hoax on June 20, 2025, the email vowed to “avenge Kasab’s hanging,” suggesting ideological grudges masked as threats. Many perpetrators are disgruntled ex-employees or scorned individuals; a 2024 Times of India analysis found 25% of arrested hoaxers cited personal vendettas, like a sacked airline staffer targeting flights. Mental health crises fuel others. The disturbing tone in Delhi’s July 18 school emails—”You deserve to suffer”—hinted at the sender’s turmoil, per cyber experts.
Attention-seeking dominates, especially among teens. In Karnataka’s 169 cases from 2022-2024, 40% involved minors chasing notoriety via anonymous posts. Dr. Anjali Chhabria, a Mumbai-based psychologist, notes in a Hindu interview that urban alienation—exams stress, parental pressure—pushes kids toward “power fantasies” online. Hoaxes offer instant control, a dopamine hit from imagined chaos.
Geopolitical echoes persist. Some 2025 threats invoked Kashmir or Pakistan, per police logs, blending nationalism with delusion. Yet, most are banal: boredom in a hyper-connected world. As one arrested Delhi teen told interrogators, “It was just to see if anyone cared.” This cocktail of motives—ego, anger, emptiness—renders hoaxers unpredictable, demanding not just cuffs but counseling to stem the tide.
Cost of Panic: The Impact of Bomb Threats on Public Institutions
The ripple effects of a single hoax are seismic. Financially, Bengaluru’s July 18 school threats cost an estimated ₹50 lakh in emergency responses—police overtime, dog squads, and lost instructional hours. Nationally, 2024’s 977 hoaxes drained ₹200 crore from aviation alone, with diversions like a September 2025 Ahmedabad airport scare racking up ₹10 lakh per flight in fuel and delays. Airlines like IndiGo reported 100+ threats in October 2024, each triggering full sweeps that idle aircraft for hours, eroding profits amid rising fuel costs.
Public institutions bear the brunt. Delhi’s September 28 school evacuations disrupted 100+ classes, costing the education system ₹1 crore in remedial sessions. Hospitals, like two Delhi facilities threatened on September 13, 2025, halt surgeries, endangering lives and inflating bills. Socially, trust erodes. In Karnataka, repeated Bengaluru threats have spiked absenteeism by 15%, per school surveys, as parents opt for homeschooling. Communities fracture—WhatsApp chains buzz with rumors, fostering paranoia.
The intangible toll is steeper: workforce productivity dips, tourism slumps. A Mumbai hoax in September 2025 deterred 5,000 commuters, per traffic data. As one Bengaluru principal lamented to Indian Express, “We’re teaching fear, not facts.” These costs compound, turning hoaxes into a slow bleed on India’s social fabric.
Inside the Response: A Day in the Life of a Bomb Squad Officer
Dawn breaks over Bengaluru’s CCB headquarters, where Sub-Inspector Ravi Kumar* suits up in his anti-fragmentation gear. At 6 a.m., his pager buzzes—a school threat in Whitefield. By 6:15, he’s en route with the Bomb Detection Squad (BDS), navigating monsoon-swollen streets. “Every call feels like the first,” he says, echoing Delhi counterparts in a 2024 Indian Express profile.
Arriving at 7 a.m., Kumar coordinates evacuation: 500 students file out calmly, drilled in protocols. His team—two technicians, a sniffer dog—deploys. The German Shepherd, Rex, sniffs lockers while Kumar scans with a handheld X-ray. False alarms dominate; July’s 40-school spree yielded zero bombs but endless sweat. By 9 a.m., it’s cleared—hoax confirmed. Lunch is a hurried idli at base, reviewing cyber traces.
Afternoon brings an airport drill. At Kempegowda, Kumar’s squad sweeps terminals, using robots for under-seat checks. A July 26 threat lingered two hours, testing nerves. Evenings? Debriefs and simulations. “We train for the 1% real threat,” Kumar notes, his day ending at 10 p.m. with fatigue and resolve. Across India, these unsung guardians—Delhi’s BDS at metros, Hyderabad’s at airports—embody vigilance amid the hoax storm.
How Bomb Scares Are Affecting Students’ Mental Health
For India’s youth, hoaxes aren’t abstract—they’re evacuations interrupting mid-math class, sirens drowning out laughter. In Delhi’s September 2025 wave, over 100 schools emptied, leaving students like 14-year-old Priya trembling: “I thought it was real; now I dread Mondays.” Experts warn of long-term scars. A Hindustan Times report cites a 20% rise in school anxiety post-threats, with symptoms like nightmares and avoidance.
Bengaluru’s July incidents amplified this. Parents queued for hours, kids witnessing canine patrols—trauma etched young. “Repeated exposure mimics PTSD,” says child psychologist Dr. Neha Vyas, noting sleep disorders in 30% of affected Delhi students. Socially, bonds fray; a July 16 Delhi hoax traced to a troubled 12-year-old highlights peer contagion.
In Hyderabad and Chennai, similar scares have spiked counseling demands by 25%. Schools now integrate “resilience workshops,” but as one Bengaluru teen shared, “Safety feels like a lie.” These invisible wounds threaten a generation’s well-being.
False Alarms, Real Consequences: Legal Penalties for Making Bomb Threats
Hoaxers face the law’s bite. Under IPC Section 505(1)(b), spreading public alarm via threats invites up to three years’ imprisonment and fines. Section 506 adds two years for intimidation. For aviation, a December 2024 amendment slaps ₹1 crore fines, as in a 2025 IndiGo case. Karnataka’s 10 arrests from 2022-2024 underscore enforcement. Yet, traceability lags, with only two detentions from 600+ 2024 threats. Stricter norms loom, promising swifter justice.
Are We Overreacting? Balancing Safety and Freedom in Public Spaces
Evacuations save lives but stifle normalcy. In Delhi’s High Court hoax, benches rose abruptly, delaying justice for thousands. Critics argue protocols—full sweeps per threat—erode freedoms, turning parks and malls into fortresses. Bengaluru parents decry “overkill” in school drills, fearing desensitization. Yet, underreaction risks real peril. The balance? Risk-based triage, per experts, preserving liberty without laxity.
From Threat to Tactic: How Bomb Hoaxes Are Being Used to Distract Law Enforcement
Beyond pranks, hoaxes divert resources. In a 2025 Delhi gang case, threats to schools masked a heist, pulling squads away. Mumbai’s September threat coincided with a smuggling bust elsewhere. The 2024 surge, with 500+ aviation hits, strained cyber cells nationwide. Criminals exploit this, turning panic into cover.
The Role of Technology in Detecting and Preventing Bomb Threats
India’s fightback leverages tech. AI-driven email filters in Delhi’s cyber wing flagged 80% of September threats via pattern recognition. Bengaluru’s CCB uses blockchain tracing for anonymous apps. Drones and spectral scanners at airports, like Hyderabad’s, cut response times by 40%. The National Cyber Coordination Centre’s ML algorithms predict surges, but gaps in rural enforcement persist.
Lessons from Abroad: How Other Countries Handle Bomb Threats
While India’s hoax epidemic strains resources, global peers offer blueprints for resilience. In the USA, the Department of Homeland Security’s Bomb Threat Management (BTM) protocol emphasizes threat assessment tiers—evaluating credibility before full evacuation—reducing panic in school swarms, as seen in 2023’s 1,000+ hoaxes resolved via CISA’s interactive tools. The UK’s Counter Terrorism Policing adopts a “search, don’t stir” mantra: post-7/7 London, threats trigger intelligence-led sweeps without automatic evacuations, minimizing disruption in 2024 airport alerts.
Australia’s National Security guidelines prioritize checklists for crowded venues, with swift police triage; Sydney’s 2022 stadium hoax led to AI-flagged patterns, averting copycats. Canada’s provincial frameworks, like Ontario’s school mandates, integrate mental health debriefs post-threat, as in Toronto’s 2023 wave where coordinated drills cut response times by 30%.
