Narendra Modi Stadium Bomb Threat: What Happened During India U-19 vs Australia U-19 Match?

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was at the centre of a security scare on Wednesday after the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) received a bomb threat email while the India Under-19 vs Australia Under-19 match was being played at the venue.

The threat was subsequently declared a hoax by the police, but security agencies immediately launched checks at the stadium and other locations mentioned in the email.

What happened at Narendra Modi Stadium?

The GCA received the threatening email on Wednesday morning, with the India-Australia Under-19 match taking place at Ground A of the stadium complex.

The GCA immediately informed the local police. A Cyber Cell team also visited the stadium as authorities began investigating the origin of the email. GCA secretary Anil Patel said the association had followed the established security protocol and noted that similar threats had been received during the 2023 ODI World Cup and IPL in the past.

The match itself was completed, after which both teams and their support staff left the stadium as part of the security protocol.

What did the bomb threat email say?

The email reportedly referred to a planned Diljit Dosanjh concert at Narendra Modi Stadium on November 21 and threatened a possible blast at the venue on that date.

The same message also mentioned Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where Dosanjh is scheduled to perform on November 1. The sender claimed an association with the "Khalistan National Army". Authorities have not established any such connection.

Were other places targeted?

Yes. The threat was part of a wider wave of emails targeting several locations in Ahmedabad, including around 10 private schools and other institutions. Police, bomb-detection teams, dog squads and anti-sabotage teams conducted searches, but no suspicious object was found.

What is the current status?

Police have confirmed the stadium threat was a hoax, while the Cyber Cell is investigating the source and sender of the emails. No suspect has been publicly identified so far. The incident has nevertheless prompted heightened security around major public venues in Ahmedabad, particularly with several high-profile events scheduled in the coming weeks.