Pictures of people being evacuated from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai caused panic on social media. However, the airport authorities clarified that it was a scheduled mock drill that was carried out on Saturday morning “only as per our security and safety protocols and measures” amid multiple speculations about the possible cause of passengers being moved out at Terminal 2 of the airport. The Mumbai Police also urged people “not to panic.”

Mumbai International Airport Limited said the terminal was continued to be declared safe with the drill completed at 11:48 am after all successful assessments and checks, news agency ANI reported.

Others were miffed by the suddenness with which the mock drill was carried out and the inconvenience passengers had to face as a result of the security measure.

“Total chaos at T2 Mumbai airport with sudden announcement of mock drill with total evacuation. Stuck & suffocating in a crowded bus on tarmac for last 30 min, along with about 15 other buses. No AC, no information. Complete Covid trap. Irresponsible & dangerous,” one person wrote on Twitter.

In March 2019, authorities had evacuated a part of Terminal 2 of the Mumbai international airport after receiving a “non-specific” bomb threat call.

Offices of various airlines, and pre-departure and arrival areas were evacuated, and a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was convened to assess the “threat call”.