Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), April 2 : Panic gripped several cities in Rajasthan after a bomb threat email targeting passport service centres and main post offices surfaced, officials said on Thursday.

The email was received by the Regional Passport Office, Jaipur, claiming that 10 poisonous bombs had been planted in the passport and postal premises.

According to the authorities, alerts were issued in multiple districts, including Jaisalmer, Barmer, Churu, Sri Ganganagar, Ajmer, and Hanumangarh, following the threat. In border districts like Jaisalmer and Barmer, authorities acted swiftly by evacuating passport offices and main post offices, while movement around the campus was restricted as a precautionary measure.

Local police, bomb disposal squads, and dog squads rushed to the spots and launched extensive search operations. In Jaisalmer, the city Kotwali police, along with heavy security deployment, carried out a thorough search of buildings and nearby areas for nearly two to three hours, but no suspicious object or explosive material was found.

Officials said the email was received on the official email ID of the passport office this morning, after which police and senior officers were immediately informed. Considering the seriousness of the threat, applicants and staff were moved to safe locations, and the adjoining post office was also temporarily shut.

The email also contained certain political references.

After searches at all locations yielded nothing suspicious, the authorities declared the email a hoax. Police said efforts are underway to identify the sender, including tracing the IP address.

Authorities have appealed to the public not to panic, avoid rumours, and report any suspicious activity immediately. As a precaution, security has been tightened across the affected areas. (ANI)