Bomb rumour in Lucknow schools triggers panic

Lucknow, July 19 (IANS) Panic prevailed among people on Tuesday after a rumour of a bomb being found in two prominent schools - City Montessori and Seth Jaipuria - spread like wild fire, and hundreds of parents rushed there to pick up their children.

While the source of the rumour could not be identified, the district administration, police officials and bomb disposal squad was also spurred into action afters ever parents contacted the District Magistrate Raj Shekhar. The school managements however said that there was no early closure of the schools and they clarified that they had sent no message to parents, as rumoured.

Raj Shekhar said he was in touch with school principals and that there was no need to panic. He also directed the schools to ensure that no rumours were passed on from their end.

"We have intimated the school managements to ensure that if there is any rumour they inform the district administration and local police officials first," he said.

The rumours on Tuesday were also taken seriously as some time back intelligence inputs suggested a possible terror attempt on a prominent schools. A security audit of all schools followed.