A fresh wave of alarm was triggered in Mumbai on Saturday night when Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central received an email bomb threat, but it was later clarified by police officials that no explosives were found on the premises. The incident was reported around 11 pm when the dean of the hospital received the threatening mail and immediately informed authorities. Security was intensified without delay, and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) carried out an exhaustive search of the hospital. Police confirmed that the operation yielded no suspicious objects, declaring the threat a hoax.
According to investigators, a case has been registered, and efforts are underway to track down the source of the email. The scare comes at a time when Mumbai has been experiencing a string of similar incidents in recent months, raising concerns about the strain such hoaxes place on security systems already stretched thin during large public gatherings.
The latest threat emerged only two days after a disturbing call had been made to the city’s traffic police helpline. The caller had claimed that 34 “human bombs” carrying 400 kilograms of RDX had been hidden in vehicles throughout the city and were set to detonate with the potential to kill “one crore people.” The organisation behind the call was identified as “Lashkar-e-Jihadi.” Police conducted extensive checks across the city but confirmed no explosive material was discovered.
The threat coincided with the Ganesh Chaturthi festival’s visarjan processions, during which lakhs of devotees participated in idol immersions. In view of the large crowds, more than 21,000 police personnel had been deployed across Mumbai to ensure crowd control and public safety. Despite the heightened alert, the situation remained under control. Later, investigators revealed that the RDX-related call had been the handiwork of a 51-year-old astrologer from Noida, who was arrested for creating panic in an attempt to frame his friend.
The Nair Hospital incident has added to a growing list of hoax threats that have plagued the city in recent months. Police had earlier arrested a 43-year-old man from Thane for issuing a false warning about Kalwa railway station. In August, Girgaon’s ISKCON temple had received a threat email that was proven baseless, while in July, Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport had also been the subject of a hoax call.
Officials emphasised that while none of these threats turned out to be real, the repeated incidents are causing widespread alarm and forcing authorities to divert significant resources for verification. Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing and reiterated their commitment to tracking down the culprits behind these disruptive hoaxes.