Tragic Explosion Rocks Nowgam Police Station
A devastating accidental explosion at a police station in Nowgam, Jammu and Kashmir, has claimed nine lives and left 32 people injured. The tragic incident occurred late Friday night while forensic experts were handling explosive materials connected to an ongoing terrorism investigation.
Government Announces Compensation Package
The Union territory administration responded swiftly on Saturday by announcing substantial financial assistance for the victims and their families. Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the family of each deceased person, while those severely injured will receive Rs 1 lakh each from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat addressed journalists during a press conference in Srinagar, providing crucial details about the circumstances leading to the explosion. The blast took place at approximately 11:20 PM on Friday while a Forensic Science Laboratory team was conducting sampling of explosives recovered during investigations into a white-collar terror module case busted in Delhi-NCR.
Investigation Details and Victim Profile
DGP Prabhat emphasized that the explosion was entirely accidental and urged the public to avoid speculation. "As part of the prescribed procedure, the samples of the recovery had to be forwarded for further forensic and chemical examination. On account of the voluminous nature of the recovery, the FSL team has been carrying out this process for the last two days," he explained.
The victims included a diverse group of professionals involved in the operation:
- One State Investigation Agency personnel
- Three FSL team members
- Two crime photographers
- Two revenue officials from the magistrate's team
- One tailor associated with the unit
Among the 32 injured victims, the breakdown includes 27 police personnel, three civilians, and two revenue officials. The DGP highlighted that the forensic team was exercising extreme caution while handling the unstable and sensitive explosive materials when the unfortunate accident occurred.
Authorities have confirmed that the sampling process was part of standard investigative procedures following the dismantling of a significant terror network. The recovery of substantial quantities of explosives necessitated detailed forensic analysis, which unfortunately led to this tragic outcome despite all safety precautions.
