Lethal Explosion Rocks Nowgam Police Station in Occupied Kashmir
A devastating police station explosion in India-occupied Kashmir’s Srinagar late last night resulted in nine fatalities and 27 injuries. The incident occurred at the Nowgam police station when a substantial cache of confiscated explosives detonated. Most of the victims were police and forensic personnel present at the scene.
According to Press Trust of India (PTI) reports, those killed included three officials from the Forensic Science Laboratory, two from the revenue department, two police photographers, a member of the State Investigation Agency, and a tailor. Among the injured, 24 police personnel and three civilians received treatment at various hospitals in Srinagar.
Aftermath of the Police Station Explosion
The powerful blast extensively damaged the police station building. Initial rescue operations were hampered by small, successive explosions, as reported by PTI. “The intensity of the blast was such that some body parts were recovered from nearby houses, around 100-200 metres away from the police station,” a police source told Reuters, indicating the sheer force of the detonation. The identification of some bodies is still underway due to severe burns.
The explosives that detonated had been seized earlier in the week in Haryana state. Officials were in the process of extracting samples from this large cache when the incident occurred. The police chief of the occupied region is expected to address the media soon regarding the tragedy.
This police station explosion follows closely on the heels of a deadly car explosion in Delhi four days prior, which claimed eight lives and was termed a “terror incident” by India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is leading the probe into the Delhi blast, though details on perpetrators remain limited. SindhNews.com also reported on the wider security implications in the region.
Authorities have been conducting sweeping raids across occupied Kashmir since Wednesday. Indian media connected arrests and seizures of explosive materials and assault rifles just hours before the November 10 Delhi blast to these operations. While no direct link to the New Delhi explosion has been confirmed for all searches, these raids represent a renewed push to tighten security following the incident. Officers also raided Al-Falah University in Faridabad, and security forces demolished a house in Pulwama district on Friday.
Conclusion
The tragic explosion at Nowgam police station highlights the inherent dangers involved in handling volatile materials and underscores the broader security challenges facing the region. As investigations continue, the incident adds to a complex security landscape, with authorities intensifying efforts to maintain order amidst ongoing probes into recent terror-related events.