An unfortunate and massive accidental explosion occurred at the Nowgam police station on the outskirts of Srinagar late Friday night, resulting in the death of at least nine people and injuring 32 others. The incident took place while a specialized team was handling and extracting samples from a large and “unstable” cache of explosive material recently confiscated in connection with a major “white-collar” terror module investigation, which is also linked to the deadly Red Fort blast in Delhi.

Senior officials from both the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have categorically ruled out a terror attack angle, emphasizing that the explosion was an unfortunate accident that occurred during a prescribed forensic procedure.

The Tragedy and Casualties

The blast occurred around 11:20 PM on Friday. The intensity of the explosion severely damaged the police station building, which was housed in a rented premises in a residential area, and caused collateral damage to adjacent structures.Rescue operations were initially hampered by small, successive explosions following the main blast.

The nine people who lost their lives were essential personnel involved in the investigation:

Personnel Group	Number Killed
Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL)	3
Crime Photographers	2
Revenue Officials (Magistrate’s Team)	2
State Investigation Agency (SIA)	1
Tailor Associated with the Team	1

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In addition to the fatalities, 32 people were injured, including 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians from the adjacent residential area. All injured were immediately evacuated to local hospitals for treatment.

The Link to the ‘White-Collar’ Terror Module

The explosive material being handled at the time of the blast was part of a major seizure made earlier in the week in Faridabad, Haryana.

• The Cache: The materials were approximately 360 kg of explosive substances, chemicals, and reagents, including ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur. This cache was part of a larger haul of nearly 2,900 kg of IED-making material recovered from the premises of the arrested accused, Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, who is linked to the terror module.
• The Procedure: Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, and Joint Secretary, MHA, Prashant Lokhande, confirmed that the explosion occurred while FSL teams were conducting the prescribed procedure of taking samples from the seized explosives for forensic and chemical examination. The vast volume and the “unstable and sensitive nature” of the recovery necessitated this on-site process, with the bulk of the material stored securely in an open area of the police station.
• The Investigation: The explosives were brought to Nowgam because the primary case (FIR No. 162/2025) concerning the terror module originated there, following the appearance of threatening posters in the area in mid-October. The subsequent investigation led police to the module’s core, which included doctors operating from Al Falah University in Faridabad, and is also linked to the car blast that occurred near the Red Fort in Delhi.

Official Response and Political Reactions

Both the J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat and MHA Joint Secretary Prashant Lokhande issued statements to the media to dispel speculation, stressing that it was an unfortunate accident and not a terror attack.

• J&K Government: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a probe to ascertain the precise cause of the accidental explosion. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the government would provide financial compensation to the victims’ families and cover damages to nearby structures. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, while expressing grief, connected the tragedy to the need to end “Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.”
• Opposition: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed that the Srinagar blast is a “wake-up call” for the Central government, demanding that it strengthen intelligence and anti-terror mechanisms. He called for an urgent all-party meeting to discuss the growing threat of terrorism. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also offered condolences to the deceased and wished for the recovery of the injured.

The focus of the ongoing inquiry is to determine the exact cause of the accidental detonation and to review the safety protocols involved in the handling and storage of seized explosive materials during high-risk investigations.

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