Nine killed in deadly explosion in occupied Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Nine people were killed and 31 others were left injured in a devastating explosion at a police station in occupied Kashmir late Friday night, officials confirmed. The blast occurred when confiscated explosives — recovered earlier this week from the northern state of Haryana — accidentally detonated during a routine forensic examination. The deadly incident took place in Nowgam, just days after a horrific car bomb blast in New Delhi claimed 12 lives and wounded dozens, raising renewed security concerns across India.
According to the region’s Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, the explosive material had been seized from Faridabad and brought to the police station for analysis following the Delhi blast. Samples from the confiscated cache were being carefully examined by forensic teams due to their extremely “unstable and sensitive nature,” he said. Despite the “utmost caution” exercised by the investigative teams, the material detonated unexpectedly at approximately 11:20 pm on Friday. “Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary,” Prabhat told reporters, ruling out theories of external interference.
Among the victims were police personnel, members of the forensic department, two crime photographers, and several workers from the local administration. Officials said the blast was so strong that it caused severe structural damage to the police station building, leaving portions of it in ruins, while nearby buildings were also impacted. Emergency responders worked through the night to rescue survivors from the debris as the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals in Srinagar.
The explosion in Nowgam comes at a time when Indian authorities are already on high alert following Monday’s lethal blast in New Delhi that killed at least 12 people and injured 30 others. India’s government declared the capital attack an act of terrorism, prompting heightened security checks and investigations across multiple states. The recovery of explosives from Haryana — and their tragic detonation during examination — has raised serious questions about the source of the material and possible links between the incidents.
Authorities said forensic teams will now continue to examine whatever remains of the confiscated explosive evidence, though the accidental blast has significantly complicated the investigation. Meanwhile, police and administrative officials have extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives while performing official duties, calling the incident a “tragic reminder of the risks faced by frontline personnel.”
Investigations into both the Delhi blast and the explosives recovered in Faridabad remain ongoing.
