'Accidental blast' at Srinagar's Nowgam police station kills 9, confirms Jammu & Kashmir DGP

A shocking explosion ripped through the Nowgam police station in Jammu Kashmir's Srinagar yesterday night. The blast claimed nine lives which includes a State Investigation Agency official, three Forensic Science Laboratory officials, two crime wing officials, two revenue officials, and a tailor who was associated with the team were among those killed, Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, shared these devastating details while addressing the media today, painting a picture of a team united in their work but caught in an unimaginable tragedy. DGP Prabhat termed the blast an accidental explosion and said that any other speculation is “unnecessary”.

The aftermath injured 32 people with 27 police personnel, two more revenue officials, and three nearby civilians suffering injuries in the powerful detonation. Quick action by first responders ensured the injured were rushed to the Indian Army's 92 Base Hospital and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS). DGP Prabhat emphasized the team's immediate response, highlighting how every second counted in turning potential disaster into stories of resilience. The blast occurred while they were handling the explosive material that had been brought from Haryana's Faridabad recently. J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat said that due to the blast, the building of the Nowgam police station has been “severely damaged” and even the adjacent buildings have been affected. The extent of this damage is being ascertained. The cause of this unfortunate incident is being inquired into. J&K police stands in solidarity with the families of the deceased in this hour of grief, he said. 

It was the Nowgam police station that cracked the case of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) posters in various locations of the area. These posters exposed the terror module in which radicalised highly-qualified professionals were involved. The discovery led to the recovery of massive explosive material and the arrest of several terror doctors.Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic accidental explosion at Nowgam Police Station. In a statement on the incident, Union Home Ministry joint secretary Prashant Lokhande said the cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained even though the recovered explosives were being forwarded for forensic examination per standard operating procedure. The transportation of explosives was being done in the past two days. Do no speculate about the reasons, Mr. Lokhande said. This tragedy underscores the high stakes of law enforcement in conflict zones, where ordinary days can turn into battles for survival.