Compensation Announced for Nowgam Police Station Blast Victims
The Jammu and Kashmir government has stepped forward to provide financial support to the families affected by the tragic accidental blast at the Nowgam police station. On Saturday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah declared a substantial ex gratia payment for the victims of this unfortunate incident.
Details of the Financial Assistance
The government will provide Rs 10 lakh to the family of each person who lost their life in the explosion that occurred on Friday night. This compensation will be disbursed from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, demonstrating the administration's immediate response to the tragedy.
For those who sustained severe injuries in the blast, the government has approved a relief amount of Rs 1 lakh per person. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made this announcement through his official account on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Government Response and Solidarity
In his statement, CM Abdullah emphasized that this financial assistance serves as a mark of solidarity and immediate succour to the affected families during their time of profound grief. The government's prompt announcement aims to provide some relief to those grappling with the sudden loss of their loved ones or dealing with serious injuries.
Following the chief minister's directives, Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakina Itoo personally visited families who lost members in the explosion to offer her condolences. She later visited the hospital where the injured are being treated, assuring them of the government's full support during this difficult period.
The Incident Details
The accidental explosion ripped through the Nowgam police station in Srinagar around 11:20 pm on Friday, resulting in nine fatalities and injuries to 32 other individuals. Senior officials have clarified that this was not a terrorist attack but an accident that occurred during police procedures.
The explosion happened when a specialized team was extracting samples from a large cache of explosives that had been confiscated in connection with an ongoing investigation into a 'white-collar' terror module. These explosives, which were linked to the Red Fort blast case, were described as unstable and were being stored in an open area within the police station premises when the accident occurred.
