The Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh was evacuated on Thursday morning after a bomb threat was received through email, prompting authorities to place the entire complex on high alert. The threat, which was sent to the office of the National Informatics Centre, led to an immediate and coordinated response from multiple security agencies to ensure the safety of employees and visitors.
The email was noticed after office hours began at 9 am, by which time several government employees had already entered the building. Security personnel acted swiftly, alerting senior officials and initiating evacuation procedures. By around 10 am, the premises were cleared in a calm and orderly manner, with employees escorted out as a precautionary measure.
Soon after the alert was raised, teams from the Chandigarh Police, the Central Industrial Security Force, the bomb disposal squad, and the fire brigade were deployed at the site. The Punjab Police and Haryana Police also joined the operation to assist in securing the building and managing the evacuation. The entire secretariat complex was sealed as bomb squads conducted an intensive search across all floors and sections.
Official sources revealed that the threatening email was sent from an email ID bearing the name “Michael Gill.” The sender allegedly claimed to be a supporter of Khalistani ideology and issued warnings against the Punjab government, including a direct threat to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The contents of the message have been taken seriously by security agencies due to the sensitive nature of the location and the individuals mentioned.
Cyber experts have been tasked with tracing the origin of the email, while intelligence agencies are examining whether the threat was genuine or a hoax. Authorities confirmed that no suspicious or explosive material had been found at the time of reporting, though search operations were still underway as part of standard security protocol.
Officials stated that the situation remains under control and urged employees to avoid returning to the building until a full security clearance is granted. Investigators emphasized that any threat to critical government infrastructure would be dealt with firmly, and strict action would follow once the sender is identified.