At least nine people died and 29 were injured. Most of the deceased were police officers, including forensic experts who were reportedly investigating the explosives at the Nowgam police station. The explosion was described as immensely powerful, with sources reporting that some bodies were "entirely incinerated" and body parts were found 100-200 meters away in nearby residences.
Some of the injured are in critical condition. The police chief of the Jammu and Kashmir region is expected to hold a press conference shortly. The incident follows a deadly car blast four days prior in New Delhi, which killed eight and was labeled a "terror incident" by the government. The incident occurs in the long-contested region of Kashmir, over which India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, have fought multiple conflicts.
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir police force in Indian-administered Kashmir is grappling with a devastating loss of life following a massive explosion at the Nowgam police station late Friday. The blast, triggered by a detonation within a stockpile of confiscated explosives, has tragically claimed the lives of at least nine individuals and wounded 29 others.
The preliminary assessment points to a catastrophic accident, with the victims predominantly being officers on duty, including specialist forensic personnel who were examining the seized materials. The force of the detonation was so extreme that it resulted in the complete incineration of some bodies, severely hindering the identification process. The widespread dispersion of debris and human remains, found hundreds of meters from the site, underscores the sheer power of the blast.
With several injured individuals listed in critical condition, the casualty toll remains a serious concern. Local authorities confirmed that fire trucks were dispatched to contain the subsequent blaze that engulfed the compound. All focus is now on the upcoming press conference by the Jammu and Kashmir police chief, expected to provide an official explanation for the disaster and clarify the operational procedures for storing volatile material.
This local tragedy adds to an already tense security environment, coming just days after a separate, deadly car explosion in New Delhi. The ongoing situation re-emphasizes the high-risk conditions under which law enforcement operates in the strategically and historically volatile Kashmir region.
Comment
