Srinagar Blast Kills 9, Injures 29 After Explosives Ignite in Station

A routine forensic examination turned into a devastating tragedy in Srinagar on Friday night when a cache of confiscated explosives suddenly detonated inside the Nowgam police station. The powerful blast killed at least nine people and left 29 injured, shaking the entire area and sending residents running out of their homes in panic.

The explosion occurred while forensic experts and police personnel were inspecting explosive materials that had recently been seized in connection with multiple investigations. Most of the victims were police officers and forensic specialists who were inside the building at the time. Two officials from the Srinagar administration also lost their lives in the incident. With several victims critically injured, authorities fear the death toll may rise.

The impact of the explosion was so severe that parts of the building were ripped apart, and debris was thrown hundreds of metres away. Some bodies were burned beyond recognition, with officials noting that body parts were even found in nearby houses up to 200 metres from the police station. Residents described hearing a deafening sound followed by tremors strong enough to shatter windows and shake walls.

Police have clarified that the explosion was not a terror attack. Officials stated that the blast happened while a forensic team was examining seized explosive material stored inside the station. A senior journalist, citing police sources, emphasised that it was a “very unfortunate incident” caused during an internal investigation and not linked to militancy.

The tragedy comes at a time of heightened security across India following the deadly car explosion in New Delhi earlier this week, which killed at least 12 people near the Red Fort and was deemed a terror attack. Following that incident, authorities in Kashmir launched a massive crackdown, detaining more than 650 people believed to be connected to extremist networks. Investigators said many of the arrested individuals had links to Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, groups known for their involvement in terror activities in the region.

Nowgam police station had recently been at the centre of multiple investigations, including a probe into threatening posters put up by JeM. That inquiry revealed what officials described as a “white-collar terror network” involving radicalised professionals and students connected to handlers abroad. Authorities also recovered nearly 3,000 kg of explosive material in the process, raising fears that a major attack was being planned.

The blast has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in Kashmir, a region long disputed between India and Pakistan. Despite repeated crackdowns, the valley has continued to witness incidents involving explosives and militant activity.

Authorities have sealed off the police station and launched a detailed inquiry to determine what triggered the explosion and whether safety protocols were followed during the handling of the seized material. More details are expected as the investigation progresses, and officials work to ensure such an incident never happens again.