In brief
A devastating explosion occurred at the Nowgam police station in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing nine people and injuring 32 others. The blast was caused by a mishap during the handling of confiscated explosives intended for forensic examination. The Delhi government has reaffirmed that this incident was accidental, dismissing any claims of terrorism. Authorities have begun a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
In a tragic incident, an accidental explosion at a police station in Indian-administered Kashmir led to the deaths of nine individuals and left 32 others injured. The explosion, described as an unfortunate mishap, occurred on Friday evening at the Nowgam police station, which was handling a stockpile of confiscated explosives. These explosives had recently been seized from the northern state of Haryana.
According to police reports, the explosives were in transit for forensic examination; however, due to mishandling, they detonated around 11:20 PM local time (17:50 GMT). The region's director general of police, Nalin Prabhat, confirmed that this incident was purely accidental, emphasizing that further speculation about a terrorist link was unnecessary.
The explosion caused severe damage to the police station and affected adjacent buildings, with flames engulfing multiple vehicles and debris scattered across the area. Witness accounts describe the intensity of the blast as so powerful that body parts were found as far as 100-200 meters away from the site.
Among the deceased were primarily police officers, forensic team members, two crime scene photographers, and a tailor who was present during the incident. The Lieutenant Governor of the region, Manoj Sinha, has extended condolences to the victims' families and announced an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion, while also advocating for the speedy recovery of those injured.
