Victoria Memorial gets bomb threat, visitors evacuated, bomb squad reaches at site

Panic gripped Kolkata on Friday afternoon after the iconic Victoria Memorial Hall received a bomb threat via email, prompting an immediate and massive security response. Authorities acted swiftly to evacuate hundreds of tourists and staff members from the marble edifice as the Kolkata Police's bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs from Lalbazar were pressed into service. The entire premises, including the gardens and the museum galleries, were cordoned off as security personnel conducted a thorough search for any suspicious objects.

This incident is the latest in a disturbing trend of hoax bomb threats targeting high-profile locations and government offices across West Bengal. Just days prior, the Passport Seva Kendra in Kolkata’s Anandapur, along with several post offices and district courts, were subjected to similar scares. In those instances, emails claimed that explosive devices had been planted to disrupt operations, though exhaustive searches by the police yielded no such devices.

The recurring nature of these threats has put the Kolkata Police and central agencies on high alert. The cyber cell is currently investigating the origin of the emails, which appear to be part of a coordinated effort to spread misinformation and public panic. While the Victoria Memorial search is still ongoing, the administration has urged citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified rumors while the security protocols are being completed.