Nine killed, 27 injured at J&K police station

SRINAGAR: What began as a meticu lous examination of seized explosives turned into one of the darkest nights for the Jammu and Kashmir Po lice, as an accidental blast ripped through the Nowgam Police Station late last night, killing nine people and injuring 27 others.

Addressing the media at the Police Control Room in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prab hat said the explosives a large quantity brought in from Faridabad as part of an ongoing investigation had been safely stored at the Nowgam station. The material, he said, was highly sensitive and unstable, prompting officials to follow every possible precaution during the sampling and inspection.

But despite the caution, tragedy struck without warning. “In the middle of the night, during the examination process, an accidental detonation occurred. The intensity of the blast was massive,” the DGP said, his voice carrying the weight of the night’s loss. The explosion not only shattered the building but also damaged nearby establishments, leaving the area shaken.

Among the nine people who lost their lives were one sub-inspector, three FSL experts, two crime photographers, two revenue officials, and one civilian tailor. Most of them were on duty, deeply involved in the inspection work when the explosion occurred. At least 27 others, includ ing police personnel and civilians, were injured and rushed to hospitals.

DGP Prabhat said the entire police force stands with the families who lost their loved ones, calling the incident “a heartbreaking reminder of the risks our personnel take every sin gle day.” He added that a high-level inquiry has been launched to determine what triggered the detona tion and whether any pro cedural lapses contributed to the mishap. “This is a tragedy we must learn from,” he said, assuring full support to the affected families and speedy treatment for the injured.