Major Explosion Shakes Srinagar's Nowgam Area
A powerful explosion devastated the Nowgam police station on the outskirts of Srinagar late Friday night, sending shockwaves across the region. The blast was so intense that it could be heard as far as 30 kilometres away, immediately triggering a massive emergency response.
Immediate Aftermath and Emergency Response
Following the explosion, the police station building and several vehicles parked in the vicinity were completely engulfed in flames. Authorities rushed a large number of ambulances and fire tenders to the area just before midnight as the situation escalated rapidly.
Senior police officials and security personnel immediately headed to the scene, while roads leading to the Nowgam area were sealed off to control access. The police have not yet issued an official statement regarding the scale of the explosion or its precise cause, though sources indicate that casualties are feared.
Connection to Red Fort Terror Module Investigation
The Nowgam police station had become a crucial storage facility for explosives recovered during the investigation into Jaish-e-Mohammad's interstate terror module that was uncovered just last week. The police station first became involved in the case back in October when posters related to the terrorist organization appeared in the area.
What began as an investigation into a local matter eventually led authorities hundreds of kilometres away from the Kashmir Valley, resulting in the arrest of three doctors from the module in Faridabad, Haryana and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. A fourth suspect, Umar Nabi, who is believed to be responsible for the Red Fort blast, managed to escape.
Massive Cache of Explosive Materials
During raids on the accused doctors, police had recovered an enormous quantity of explosive materials including more than 350 kg of ammonium nitrate. This was part of approximately 2,900 kg of suspected explosive material that also contained potash, phosphorous, reagents, inflammable substances, electronic circuits, batteries, wires, remote controls, timers and metal sheets.
Sources revealed that investigators are examining whether the stored explosives detonated during an inspection that was supposed to be conducted in the presence of a magistrate and a Forensic Science Laboratory team that had arrived to collect samples. Police have not disclosed how much of the recovered explosive material had been transferred to the Nowgam police station for storage.
The incident has raised serious questions about the safety protocols for storing dangerous materials at police facilities, particularly those connected to high-profile terrorism cases. As investigations continue, security has been heightened in the area while forensic experts work to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the catastrophic explosion.
