Kashmir Police Station Blast Linked to Seized Explosives
An accidental explosion at the Nowgam Police Station in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, during the examination of seized explosives has claimed at least nine lives and injured over 30 people. The blast occurred late on Friday around 11:20 pm and was part of the investigation into a cache of explosives recovered from Faridabad, Haryana.
The explosives—believed to weigh around 360 kg and include ammonium nitrate—had been transported to Nowgam from the crackdown on a “white-collar terror” module. Officials said the detonation took place while a forensics team was handling samples. The blast caused severe structural damage to the police station building and nearby vehicles, with windows shattered in homes located a couple of kilometres away.
Investigators emphasised that the explosion was accidental and not immediately linked to any terror attack, but the sensitive nature of the material has raised questions about storage and handling protocols inside the police facility. The Jammu & Kashmir Director-General of Police said the sampling process had been ongoing for two days and the material was stored outdoors in the station compound.
Authorities have initiated an inquiry into the incident and are assessing whether safety norms were adequately followed. Families of the deceased will receive compensation, and a review of procedures for transporting and storing explosive evidence is underway. The blast marks one of the worst accidental explosions in a law-enforcement facility in recent memory.
