SRINAGAR — Nine persons were killed and 32 others were injured in a major explosion caused “accidentally” inside Srinagar’s Nowgam Police Station on Friday night, officials said.
The blast triggered by the unstable nature of chemicals, occurred while authorities were extracting samples from a large cache of confiscated explosive material brought from Haryana‘s Faridabad, the officials said. The material was part of the 360 kg of explosives recovered from the rented residence of arrested accused Dr Muzammil Ganaie, they said.
Among the dead were three members of the Forensic Science Laboratory, two officials from the Revenue Department including a Naib Tehsildar, two police photographers, one officer from the State Investigation Agency and a tailor The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment.
The bodies have been taken to the Police Control Room here.
At least 24 police personnel and three civilians have been admitted to various hospitals in the city, the officials said.
The massive blast smashed the quiet of the night and damaged the police station building. Small successive explosions prevented immediate rescue operations by the bomb disposal squad. Building nearby the police station were also severely damaged due to the impact of the blast.
“The extent of damage is being ascertained,” J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat said, according to reports.
While some of the explosives recovered have been kept at forensic lab of police, the major part of the 360 kg of explosives was stored at the police station, where the primary case for the terror module was registered.
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief said the massive explosion at Nowgam police station that left nine dead and 32 injured was “accidental” and ruled out sabotage as the cause of the incident.
Prabhat said the explosives recovered during investigation in the “white collar terror module” case were transported from Haryana’s Faridabad to Nowgam police station and kept securely in an open area in its premises.
“As part of the prescribed procedure, the samples of the recovery had to be forwarded for further forensic and chemical examination. On account of the voluminous nature of the recovery, the FSL (forensic science laboratory) team has been carrying out this process for the last two days,” Prabhat told reporters.
The DGP said that due to the unstable and sensitive nature of the recovery, the FSL team was conducting the sampling process and its handling with utmost caution.
“Unfortunately during this course, around 11.20 pm last night, an accidental explosion took place. Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary,” he added.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a probe into the accidental blast in Nowgam police station.
“I have ordered a probe to ascertain the cause of the accidental explosion,” Sinha said in an X post.
The L-G expressed anguish over the loss of lives in the incident.
All possible assistance is being provided to those affected, he added. — Agencies
