Nowgam Police Station Blast: A Tragic Reminder of Explosives Handling Protocols
A devastating explosion at Nowgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir has claimed nine lives and left 29 others injured, raising serious questions about the handling of seized explosives. The tragic incident occurred on Friday when explosives seized during the Red Fort blast investigation accidentally detonated during forensic sampling procedures.
According to official statements from Jammu and Kashmir Police, the explosive materials were part of evidence collected while investigating a terror module connected to the Red Fort blast case. The powerful blast has highlighted critical gaps in the standard operating procedures for handling dangerous materials.
What Went Wrong? Understanding Explosives Storage Protocols
Explosives experts consulted by The Indian Express revealed that specific protocols exist for handling seized explosive materials. When enforcement agencies recover materials suspected to be explosives or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), they must immediately call the Bomb Detection Team (BDT) and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) available in their district.
The first and most critical rule involves keeping the material away from populated areas and storing it in isolated locations without electricity or any ignition sources. The location must be properly guarded at all times. If no suitable isolated location is available, authorities may use open stadiums as temporary storage solutions.
Several districts and states maintain licensed explosive storage facilities known as explosive magazines, which are specifically designed with proper safety mechanisms. Storing large quantities of explosives at police stations or residential installations should be strictly avoided unless the location has been specifically designated for this purpose.
The Critical First Response: Immediate Safety Measures
Some explosive materials require immediate attention due to their volatile nature. Certain chemicals used in explosives can spontaneously ignite when exposed to air. For instance, sodium虽然不是爆炸物本身, but will ignite if kept in open air. Similarly, phosphorus—commonly used in hand grenades—must be stored in water to prevent combustion.
Experts emphasize that trained explosive-handling personnel should be deployed immediately to assess, neutralize, and handle dangerous materials. Police departments can seek assistance from BDS and BDT teams within their districts, and they should also inform the Controller of Explosives at the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to initiate the destruction process.
Transportation and Chain of Custody Procedures
Establishing proper chain of custody is crucial for every explosive item recovered during raids. The officer in charge must immediately move the material to a properly isolated area, register a First Information Report (FIR) without delay, and refer the matter to the Judicial Magistrate of the area for permission to destroy the materials.
While these legal procedures are underway, explosives must be stored either in licensed explosive magazines or in open, secure locations with proper guarding and monitoring systems in place.
Special explosive vans play a vital role in safe transportation, though not every district police force has access to these specialized vehicles. These vans are specially constructed trucks or containers covered with aluminum sheets and lined with wood interior. Their design ensures that any electric charge generated is safely conducted to the ground, and in case of explosion during transportation, the structure helps contain the blast to minimize damage.
While such vans are commonly used in commercial industries and military operations, experts stress that in sensitive regions like Jammu and Kashmir, these vehicles should be readily available with necessary facilities ensured for their deployment.
The Nowgam tragedy serves as a stark reminder that proper handling of explosive materials requires strict adherence to established safety protocols, adequate training of personnel, and availability of proper equipment to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
