The blast, triggered during the handling of explosives seized in the Faridabad terror module case, ripped through Srinagar’s Nowgam Police Station on Friday night.
At least nine people were killed and over 30 injured after a massive explosion tore through the Nowgam Police Station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar late Friday night. The accidental blast occurred while officials were extracting samples from a large cache of explosives recently seized in the Faridabad terror module case, officials said on Saturday.
The blast reduced the police station to rubble and gutted several vehicles parked outside. Eyewitnesses and CCTV footage captured the explosion tearing through the building, sending flames and thick smoke billowing into the air.
According to sources, the death toll may rise as several of the injured are in critical condition and some people remain missing. Rescuers continued to comb through the rubble for those feared trapped. Investigators said body parts were found as far as 300 feet from the site, underscoring the scale of the blast.
ACCIDENTAL BLAST, SAYS TOP COP
While police maintained that the blast was triggered during the handling and sealing of the seized explosives in the presence of a magistrate, the PAFF, a shadow organisation linked to Jaish-e-Muhammad, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the incident.
However, J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat said at a press conference that the explosion was accidental and dismissed other theories as “unnecessary speculation.”
“A huge quantity of explosive substances and chemicals were recovered from Faridabad. We transported the recovery to PS Nowgam. Due to the sensitive nature, handling was being done with utmost caution. However, last night an accidental explosion occurred. Any other speculation is unnecessary,” the DGP said.
During the press conference, the J&K top cop informed that 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. The DGP also added that 27 police personnel, two revenue officials and three civilians have received injuries.
The explosion caused extensive damage to the police station building, which was “very severely” impacted, and several adjoining structures were also affected. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the destruction, he added.
In a separate press briefing, Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, also echoed J&K DGP’s statement and said that the cause of the incident is being investigated and any other speculation into the cause of the blast was unnecessary.
Much of the 350 kg stock of explosives recovered in the terror module case had been stored inside the police station, where the primary FIR is registered.
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