An atmosphere of fear gripped the Anandapur area of Kolkata today after the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) received a targeted bomb threat. The incident, which unfolded on Thursday afternoon, led to the immediate suspension of services and a large-scale security mobilization.
The alarm was raised when office authorities received a message claiming that explosives had been planted within the premises. Given the high volume of daily visitors and the sensitive nature of the facility, officials acted swiftly to clear the building.
Hundreds of passport applicants, many of whom had traveled from distant districts, were hurried out of the office alongside staff members, leading to scenes of confusion and anxiety on the streets outside.Local police and specialized bomb disposal units arrived at the scene shortly after the alert.
Security personnel cordoned off the building and initiated a comprehensive combing operation, using sniffer dogs and electronic scanners to check every floor, cabin, and common area for suspicious objects.
While search operations were underway, many citizens expressed frustration and concern over their missed appointments and the safety of their personal documents.
As of now, investigators are working to trace the origin of the threat—whether it was sent via email or phone—to identify the culprits behind the scare.
This incident follows a worrying trend of hoax threats targeting public infrastructure across India, though authorities are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness until the building is officially declared safe.
