Tragedy Strikes Nowgam: Explosion Claims Nine Lives
A devastating explosion ripped through the Nowgam police station in Srinagar late Friday night, claiming the lives of nine individuals. The victims included police personnel, forensic experts, and civilians who were present at the station to handle explosive materials that had been recovered during recent raids on a terror module.
The Fatal Moments and the Victims
The incident occurred shortly after Mohammad Amin Mir, a 45-year-old head constable with the Forensic Scientific Lab (FSL), spoke to his brother, promising to return home soon after finishing his work. He was part of the team collecting samples from the seized explosives. Among the other victims was Peerzada Asrar-ul-Haq Haq, a 38-year-old inspector with the Special Investigation Agency (SIA), who had aspired to be a civil service officer.
The blast also killed Muzaffar Ahmad Khan, the Naib Tehsildar for Nowgam who was overseeing the procedure. The two photographers documenting the process, Javid Mansoor Rather (42) and Arshad Ahmad Shah, also lost their lives. Mohammad Shafi Parray, a 52-year-old tailor who was taken to the station to stitch bags for the seized material, and Suhail Ahmad Rather, a chowkidar acting as an independent witness, were also among the fatalities. The list includes Ajaz Ahmad Mir, a Senior Grade Constable, and Showkat Ahmad, a lab assistant.
Aftermath and Investigation
The explosive materials that caused the blast had been stored at the police station after being recovered from a busted terror module. The forensic team, along with police and civilian officials, was working on sample collection when the tragedy struck. The explosion has sent shockwaves through the region, highlighting the dangers faced by security forces and civilians in conflict-affected areas.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the blast. The incident underscores the persistent threat of terrorism in the Valley and the immense sacrifice made by those on the front lines, from dedicated police officers to local civilians caught in the crossfire.
