At least 9 killed, 32 injured in accidental blast at J&K police station
A major blast took place at the Nowgam police station in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, late Friday night. The explosion killed nine people and injured 32 others, as reported by AP News. The blast happened around 11:20 pm while officials were working with a large amount of explosive material seized in a terror-related case.
How the Blast Happened
According to The Times of India, the explosion took place when police officers, forensic experts, and revenue officials were examining explosive samples that had been seized earlier from a terror module in Faridabad. These samples were highly unstable, and the team was preparing them for forensic testing.
The Indian Express reported that the explosives suddenly went off during the handling process, causing a powerful blast that damaged the police station building and nearby houses.
Casualties
Among the nine people who died were forensic lab experts, revenue officials (including a Naib Tehsildar), crime-scene photographers, and a member of the State Investigation Agency. Several civilians who were nearby also suffered injuries, as reported by The Indian Express.
Most of the 32 injured were police personnel.
Officials Call It an Accident
Jammu & Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat said the blast was accidental and asked the public not to speculate about a terror angle, as reported by Hindustan Times. He explained that the explosives were extremely sensitive, and the team was handling them carefully when the tragedy happened.
Government Response
The Ministry of Home Affairs also said the incident was accidental, as reported by The Economic Times. They confirmed that the seized explosives were kept in the open area of the police station under expert supervision, as per procedure.
An investigation has been ordered to find out exactly what caused the accidental detonation.
Background
The seized explosives were linked to a larger terror probe involving a suspected “white-collar” terror network, as reported by The New Indian Express. This case had earlier led to the recovery of a huge quantity of explosive materials from Faridabad.