Nowgam Police Station Blast: A Tragic Accident During Evidence Collection
A devastating explosion ripped through the Nowgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir late Friday night, resulting in the tragic loss of at least nine lives. The Indian government has officially confirmed that the blast was an accidental explosion triggered during a critical forensic sampling procedure.
Official Statement and Investigation Details
Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Division in the Ministry of Home Affairs, addressed the incident on Saturday. He stated that the explosion occurred at approximately 11:20 pm inside the police station compound. The site was storing a massive cache of explosive substances and chemicals that had been recovered during the investigation of a terror module linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
Lokhande elaborated that a forensic sampling process had been ongoing for two days. The recovered chemical and explosive samples were being prepared for further forensic and chemical examination, following standard and prescribed procedures. “Due to the voluminous recovery, the process was continually attended for the last two days by following the standard operating procedure. However, during the process, an accidental explosion took place,” he explained. The cause of this accident is now under investigation.
Powerful Blast and Immediate Aftermath
The force of the explosion was immense. A senior Jammu and Kashmir police officer reported that the shockwave was felt as far as 30 kilometers away. The blast engulfed the Nowgam police station and several adjacent vehicles in flames, causing significant damage to barracks housing police personnel. Several officers sustained injuries in the incident, and the death toll is feared to potentially rise.
Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams were promptly dispatched to the site following the explosion to begin their investigation into the precise cause.
Context: The JeM Terror Module Bust
The Nowgam police station was central to a major counter-terrorism operation that led to the unraveling of an interstate JeM terror module just last week. The investigation, which began with the appearance of JeM posters in the area, expanded hundreds of kilometers from the Valley to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
As part of the raids to bust this module, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had made a colossal recovery. This included more than 350 kg of ammonium nitrate, which was part of roughly 2,900 kg of suspected explosive material. The seized items also comprised potash, phosphorus, reagents, flammable materials, electronic circuits, batteries, wires, remote controls, timers, and metal sheets.
The government has expressed its solidarity with the families of the deceased in this hour of profound grief, urging against unnecessary speculation as the official investigation continues.
