Discovery raises alarm at school campus
In a startling discovery on Thursday, police in Uttarakhand recovered 161 packets of suspected explosive material from bushes near the campus of Government Inter College Dabra in Almora district. The find triggered a security lockdown of the area and prompted involvement of bomb disposal and dog squads.
The packets were spotted by schoolchildren who were playing near the college grounds when they noticed suspicious cylindrical items scattered around. The principal alerted local police at approximately 2 :50 pm.
What the material appears to be
Authorities identified the items as being marked “901 emulsion explosives 125 gm by SBL Energy Limited”, and they resemble gelatin-sticks typically used for blasting in road-construction or mining operations.
According to the memo from the bomb disposal squad, the sticks remain “potentially hazardous until they are detonated or neutralised”.
Response and investigation under way
A team of bomb disposal experts and dog-squad units (with dogs “Molly” and “Rambo”) from Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts arrived on Friday to assist with the scene. They carried out a detailed search and recovered additional similar packets approximately 15-20 feet from the initial find.
An FIR has been registered at the local police station under:
- Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 (pertaining to making/possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or property)
- Section 288 of the Indian Penal Code (negligent conduct with respect to explosives)
SSP Devendra Pincha said the investigation is focused on determining how the material ended up near the school and who placed it there.
Broader concerns and precautions
The incident has raised serious concerns:
- The proximity of large volumes of explosive material to a school poses an immediate child-safety and public-security risk.
- The finding suggests possible illicit diversion of construction-blasting material, or storage/transport irregularities.
- It underscores the need for stricter control, tracking and disposal of commercial explosives.
- School authorities and police are working to ensure no further access, and local residents have been asked to report any suspicious objects.
What to watch next
- The police investigation: identifying the supplier, transport route and intended purpose of the material.
- Whether any arrests or intelligence leads emerge linking this to illegal blasting, quarrying or misuse of explosives.
- Whether regulations around handling, storage and transportation of emulsion explosives in Uttarakhand will be reviewed or tightened.
- Ensuring the affected area is secured long-term and that students and staff have assurances of safety.
Final word
The recovery of 161 packets of suspicious explosive material near a school in Almora is a stark reminder that even seemingly remote locations can be exposed to serious security risks. For parents and educators, the incident will prompt questions about how such materials were placed unnoticed. For police and regulators, it highlights the need for vigilance and robust controls in the chain of custody for commercial explosives. The next phase of investigation will be critical in uncovering whether this was a storage mishap, a diversion or something more sinister.
