An email threatening to blow up the iconic Taj Mahal was received at the Uttar Pradesh Tourism regional office on Tuesday, creating a brief panic before it was deemed a hoax, police said. Authorities, including bomb disposal teams, dog squads, and other security personnel, thoroughly searched the premises but found nothing suspicious.

Sayed Areeb Ahmad, ACP responsible for the Taj Mahal’s security, said, “An email was received by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism office threatening to blow up the Taj Mahal. We have found nothing as per the email. Bomb disposal squad, dog squad, and other teams reached the Taj Mahal for the safety check.” He added, “The matter is being investigated, and the sender of the email is being traced.”

Deepti Vatsa, deputy director of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, shared that the email was immediately forwarded to the Agra Police and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Agra Circle, for action. In response, security teams, including the CISF and police personnel, thoroughly inspected key areas such as the gardens, main platform, and dustbins on the Taj Mahal premises, ultimately finding no threats.

Surge in Hoax Bomb Threats Across India
The incident at the Taj Mahal comes against the backdrop of a troubling rise in hoax bomb threats across India. Official data reveals that airlines alone reported 999 such threats between January 2024 and November 14, 2024. Alarmingly, 666 of these incidents occurred in October, making it the highest monthly count this year.

In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol highlighted the operational disruptions caused by these hoaxes, impacting airline schedules and creating unnecessary panic.

Monthly data shows fluctuating figures, with January recording 11 incidents and February 17. March saw a drop with only five incidents, while April and May had 60 and 26, respectively. The number rose significantly in June with 116 incidents but decreased in July and August with 10 and 21, respectively. September saw 15 incidents, followed by the unprecedented spike in October. Up to mid-November, 52 additional hoax threats were recorded.

Mohol also revealed that 256 FIRs have been registered, leading to 12 arrests so far. Authorities continue to emphasize the need for stringent measures to deter such activities, which not only disrupt operations but also drain critical resources.