Bomb scare at AIIMS turns out hoax

After searching the campus of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for nearly two-and-a-half hours on Wednesday, Delhi Police said an anonymous call about a bomb being planted in the hospital was a hoax.

"It was a hoax call as after extensive search nothing was found," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anil Shukla.

The incident threw both police and the hospital administration in a tizzy. On any given day, nearly 8,000 patients receive treatment at AIIMS.

The call was received around 11.27 am following which the bomb disposal and dog squads were pressed into service. The hospital authorities breathed a sigh of relief after the police declared the call a hoax.

"It's certainly a big relief for all of us in the hospital. Police searched all 56 OPDs and the emergency wards. We have also called in the fire service for help," chief spokesman of AIIMS Shakti Gupta said.

Gupta, who is also the chief medical officer of RP Centre for Ophthalmology said though there was some inconvenience, the patient care was not affected much.

In the wake of serial blasts in Mumbai July 11, Delhi police have received over a dozen such hoax calls about bombs being planted in busy markets, cinema theatres and religious places.