Nine killed, 30 injured in accidental blast at Nowgam Police Station during handling of seized explosives
Srinagar: A tragic accidental explosion at the Nowgam Police Station on the outskirts of Jammu & Kashmir has claimed the lives of nine personnel and left 30 others injured, officials confirmed on Saturday. The blast occurred late Friday night while teams were extracting samples from a recently seized large cache of explosives linked to the “white-collar terror module” case.
According to senior officials, the explosion took place when a team of police personnel, along with forensic experts, was handling the explosives that had been brought from Faridabad, Haryana, as part of the ongoing investigation into the covert terror network. The seized materials reportedly included high-grade explosive substances, detonators, and components suspected to be used in sophisticated IEDs.
Explosion during sample extraction
Sources said the seized explosives were being catalogued and samples were being extracted for forensic analysis when the sudden blast occurred. Officers present at the site said there was no indication of foul play at this stage, and all initial findings point to an accidental detonation triggered during handling.
The blast was so powerful that it caused substantial damage to a section of the Nowgam Police Station building. Emergency response teams rushed to the spot, and the injured personnel were quickly shifted to nearby hospitals. Several of the critically injured were later moved to specialty facilities in Srinagar for advanced treatment.
Officials supervise investigation; high alert declared
Top police and administrative officials reached the site soon after the incident. The area has been cordoned off, and a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to determine the exact cause of the accident. Forensic teams are conducting a detailed examination of the blast site.
One senior official stated, “The materials seized were sensitive and highly volatile. Even during controlled extraction, mishandling or minimal friction can trigger a reaction. We are examining whether procedural lapses occurred.”
Security around the region has been heightened as investigations continue. Authorities clarified that the blast has no link to any terror attack, and it was purely an operational accident during evidence handling.
Seizure linked to white-collar terror module
The seized explosives were part of a major breakthrough in an investigation targeting a sophisticated “white-collar terror module” believed to be involved in planning coordinated attacks, funding subversive activities, and using educated operatives to evade surveillance. The seizure was made earlier this week and included bulk explosives, circuit boards, triggering devices, and encrypted communication tools.
Sources indicate that the module operated with a high degree of stealth and relied heavily on professional expertise—including engineers and financiers—to assemble devices in a decentralized manner. The investigation remains active, with several suspects being interrogated.
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