A massive explosion shook the Nowgam Police Station on the outskirts of Srinagar late Friday night, killing nine people and injuring around 27 others. According to officials, the blast occurred during the examination of a large cache of explosives that had been seized earlier this week as part of an investigation into a “white-collar” terror module. The seized material reportedly included ammonium nitrate and other highly volatile chemicals.
The explosion happened when police personnel and forensic experts were conducting routine sampling of the recovered explosives. The impact was so powerful that multiple smaller blasts followed, causing further chaos and delaying rescue operations. Several vehicles parked inside the police station caught fire, while the shockwave shattered glass windows in nearby residential and commercial buildings, creating panic among locals.
Authorities have ruled out any terror attack behind the explosion. Senior officials confirmed that the tragedy was the result of an accidental detonation during examination. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Jammu & Kashmir Police chief both stated that the blast occurred while handling the seized chemical material and not due to any external attack.
The victims include police officers and forensic team members who were on duty at the time. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, where many are still undergoing treatment. Their condition remains under close observation.
In response to the incident, an internal inquiry has been launched to investigate the safety protocols followed during the storage and handling of explosive material. Authorities are expected to review existing guidelines to prevent such accidents in the future, especially in high-security zones.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by police and forensic teams while handling explosive or sensitive materials during investigations.
