Civil Secretariat evacuated after bomb threat

The Haryana Civil Secretariat was evacuated following a bomb threat received through an email here this afternoon.

Personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the police launched a massive combing operation in and around the nine-storey high-security building.

The alert was sounded by the Haryana CID, said officials.

The email, reportedly warning of a potential suicide attack, was sent to the Secretariat and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s official residence on Friday. Information was received at around 3.15 pm that there could be a bomb in the office building.

“The Civil Secretariat has been evacuated. Announcements were made by the CISF and Chandigarh Police personnel asking people to leave the building," said DSP Udaypal Singh.

A bomb disposal squad, fire brigade, ambulance, quick reaction teams and a dog squad reached the high-security area soon after the alert, and the security was heightened.