Indian authorities temporarily closed the Taj Mahal on Tuesday morning after a bomb threat triggered a high-security alert at the iconic monument.
Over 1,500 tourists were safely escorted out as specialised bomb and dog squads combed the premises for any suspicious items, reported the Times of India.
The threat was made in an email sent to the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department’s local office at 7.53am. It said that an explosive device had been planted at the site. However, a delay in accessing the message – only opened after the office began operations at 11am – briefly stalled the response.
“An email threatening to blow up the Taj Mahal at a specific time was forwarded to security agencies for immediate action,” Deepti Vats, deputy director of the state tourism department, was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
Security agencies, including the Central Industrial Security Force and local police, immediately heightened vigilance upon receiving the alert.
Entry and exit points were subjected to intensified checks, although officials prioritised maintaining calm during the evacuation process.
“Taj Mahal has robust security, but additional measures were implemented immediately. Comprehensive checks were conducted to identify any suspicious objects. Bomb squads scoured the premises to ensure safety, and other measures, including restricting entry and tightening surveillance, were implemented,” said deputy police commissioner Suraj Rai.
Assistant police commissioner Sayed Areeb Ahmad said the threat turned out to be a hoax after a thorough inspection of the premises.
“The email claimed a bomb had been planted at the Taj Mahal. A thorough search was conducted, and it turned out to be a hoax threat,” he said. “We are filing an FIR under the Bombs and Explosives Substances Act and the Information Technology Act.”
Investigators are now focused on tracing the origin of the email.
The Taj Mahal, which sees thousands of daily visitors, is equipped with rigorous security protocols.
