By: The Trek News Desk
A late-night explosion inside the Nowgam Police Station in Jammu and Kashmir has been officially termed an accidental blast by the Union Government. The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed on Saturday that the incident occurred during an ongoing forensic sampling procedure. At least nine people have been reported dead, and officials caution that the toll could rise.
Explosives Under Examination for Two Days
According to Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary (J&K Division) in the Home Ministry, investigators had stored a large cache of explosives seized during a terror module crackdown in a designated open area inside the police station. Forensic teams had been examining the material for nearly 48 hours.
A government source revealed that teams were working late to complete the final batch of samples when the explosion occurred.
A Powerful Blast Felt Nearly 30 km Away
A senior police officer described the explosion as “massive,” noting that its shockwave was reportedly felt up to 30 kilometres from the site.
The blast severely damaged major sections of the police station, set several vehicles ablaze, and left many personnel housed in nearby barracks injured.
Cause Under Investigation; Centre Urges Against Speculation
Lokhande emphasised that all agencies involved are following a coordinated, scientific probe to determine the exact trigger of the blast.
“This was an unfortunate accident. Speculation at this stage is unwarranted,” he said, adding that the government stands with the families of those who lost their lives.
JeM Inter-State Module Crackdown Linked to Stored Explosives
The Nowgam Police Station had recently become the central hub for an investigation that exposed a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) inter-state terror network.
During raids conducted as part of this operation, authorities had recovered:
- 350 kg of ammonium nitrate
- Part of a massive 2,900 kg stockpile of suspected explosive materials, including
- Potash and phosphorus
- Various chemical reagents
- Highly flammable compounds
- Electronic circuits and remote-control units
- Timers, wires, and batteries
- Metal sheets
It was during the handling and sampling of these recovered materials that the fatal explosion took place.
Source: News Agencies
