Bomb Threat at Bhubaneswar Passport Office Turns Out to Be Hoax

Bhubaneswar: A bomb threat email sent to the Regional Passport Office in Unit-8, Bhubaneswar, on Thursday triggered panic and prompted an immediate evacuation of the premises, officials said.

According to sources, the email warned of a bomb planted inside the office building. Acting swiftly, authorities evacuated all employees and visitors, while public access to the area was restricted as a precaution.

Personnel from Nayapalli police station, along with bomb disposal and dog squads, rushed to the spot and launched a comprehensive search operation. The teams used metal detectors to scan the building, while sniffer dogs were deployed to detect any suspicious objects or explosives.

After an extensive search covering all floors, rooms, and surrounding areas, no bomb or explosive material was found. Officials later confirmed that the threat was a hoax.

The incident comes amid a spate of similar bomb threats reported in Bhubaneswar in recent days. Earlier, the Bhubaneswar District Court complex had also received a threatening email warning of an explosion, leading to evacuation and search operations. That incident too was declared a hoax after no explosives were recovered.

Police have initiated an investigation to trace the source of the email in the passport office case. Authorities are also examining whether the recent threats are linked and part of a larger pattern targeting public institutions.