A powerful explosion tore through the Nowgam Police Station on Friday night (November 14), killing nine people and injuring around 30 others in one of the deadliest incidents in the Valley in recent months.
The blast occurred while police and forensic teams were handling a large quantity of ammonium nitrate that had been seized during a recent terror-related operation in Faridabad. Officials said the chemical was being inspected and sealed when the explosion took place, though the exact trigger remains unclear.
Firefighters and emergency teams rushed to the site moments after the explosion, battling flames that engulfed parts of the police compound. The impact of the blast sent debris flying across nearby areas, with human remains reportedly found several hundred feet from the scene. Many of the injured were immediately shifted to hospitals across Srinagar, with several said to be in critical condition.
Senior police officers cordoned off the area as investigators began examining the site. Authorities are probing whether the explosion was the result of accidental ignition during the forensic process or if it was an act of sabotage. A vehicle that had been under investigation and was parked inside the compound is also being inspected for traces of explosives.
The seized material that was being processed at the station is linked to a terror module believed to have orchestrated recent attacks, including the Red Fort car blast in Delhi. Several arrests have already been made in connection with the case, and one suspected member of the group remains on the run.
Security has been tightened across Srinagar following the incident, and additional forces have been deployed as investigations continue. Officials said a detailed inquiry is under way to determine both the cause of the explosion and whether protocols for storing seized explosives were followed.
