Wednesday brought unwelcome tension to Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when a bomb threat email arrived, blending menace with sectarian barbs. Security apparatus sprang to life, turning potential peril into a managed drill.
The 11:05 AM email from Amber Durham zeroed in on the airport, warning of destruction while peddling narratives that Sikhs differ from Hindus and top ministers oppose Khalistan. Unmet demands promised grave fallout.
Immediate countermeasures included a police FIR and bolstered defenses. The 11:20 AM Bomb Threat Committee huddle lasted 30 minutes, slotting it as non-specific, yet greenlighting blanket searches across facilities.
Duty manager Ravikant Bhardwaj’s complaint invoked cyber and intimidation statutes, with cyber crime sleuths on the trail. No hazards materialized, affirming the threat’s hollow nature.
Echoing January 23’s school threats—over 20 affected, all cleared—these incidents reveal a hoax epidemic straining resources. Yet, they also spotlight effective responses that minimize chaos.
Airport functionality persisted seamlessly, a testament to robust training and tech integration. In an era of anonymous digital assaults, bolstering traceability and public awareness emerges as critical to deterring future scares, keeping travelers secure.