A powerful accidental explosion ripped through the Nowgam Police Station on the outskirts of Srinagar late Friday night, claiming nine lives and leaving 29 others injured, most of them police personnel and forensic experts. The blast occurred during the handling of a large cache of explosives seized in a major terror investigation, turning a routine evidence examination into a scene of devastation.
The tragedy struck around 11:20 PM, when a joint team of officials was conducting a critical examination. According to senior officials, personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), the Jammu & Kashmir Police, and a revenue official (Tehsildar) were inspecting the explosive material stored at the station.
The explosives in question—reportedly ammonium nitrate-based mixtures—were a central piece of evidence recovered from the arrested doctor, Muzammil Ganaie. A significant portion of the 360 kg of explosive substances seized from his rented residence in Faridabad, Haryana, had been stored at the Nowgam Police Station as part of the ongoing investigation into a terror module.
Scene of Carnage and Rescue Efforts
The force of the explosion was catastrophic, severely damaging the police station building and destroying several vehicles parked on the premises. The initial blast triggered a series of smaller, successive explosions, creating panic and significantly delaying the rescue operations as bomb disposal teams worked to secure the area.
Authorities launched a massive emergency response, with the injured being evacuated to multiple hospitals across Srinagar for treatment. The bodies of the nine deceased were retrieved from the rubble in a painstaking overnight operation that extended into early Saturday morning. The victims have been shifted to the Police Control Room in Srinagar and are yet to be formally identified.
A Night Shattered by Blast and Fire
Video footage from the scene captured the scale of the destruction, showing intense flames engulfing the police station compound and thick plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky. The shockwaves from the blast shattered windowpanes in nearby residential localities, including Rawalpora, jolting residents from their sleep.
"I heard a massive blast that shook our entire house. It was followed by two or three smaller explosions. We initially had no idea what had happened," said a shaken resident living close to the police station.
The response was swift and multi-agency. Fire tenders, ambulances, and reinforcements from security forces, including the Army and the CRPF's Valley Quick Action Team (QAT), rushed to the spot to assist in firefighting and rescue efforts.
As the city grapples with the shock, a high-level inquiry has been initiated to determine the exact circumstances that led to the catastrophic explosion during what should have been a controlled procedure. The incident has raised serious questions about the protocols for storing and handling high-risk seized materials, casting a somber shadow over the security establishment in the region.
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