SRINAGAR — In a devastating incident late Friday night, a massive blast ripped through the Nowgam Police Station on the outskirts of Srinagar, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens more, authorities said. The explosion occurred while forensic and police personnel were examining a large cache of explosives seized from Faridabad, prompting the Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor’s office to order a detailed inquiry.
Blast Details and Immediate Aftermath
According to Jammu & Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, the explosion happened around 11:20 PM as officers from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), along with local police and revenue officials, were taking samples from the seized material.
The blast was so powerful that it gutted parts of the police station, set several vehicles on fire, and shattered windows of nearby buildings. Successive smaller explosions followed the main detonation, hampering rescue efforts. Emergency teams—including bomb disposal squads, fire services, and medical units—rushed to the scene, with several injured taken to Srinagar hospitals for treatment.
Casualties and Victims
Authorities confirmed nine fatalities, including a mix of law enforcement and support personnel:
- 3 officials from the Forensic Science Laboratory
- 1 State Investigation Agency (SIA) official
- 2 crime-scene photographers
- 2 revenue officials (including a Naib Tehsildar)
- 1 tailor who was reportedly “associated with the team” during the sampling process.
Injury reports vary, but according to officials, 32 people have been hurt, including 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians from nearby areas. Some of the injured are said to be in critical condition, and authorities are still searching for individuals feared trapped under debris.
Cause: Accidental, Says Police
DGP Prabhat strongly denied any terrorism link to the blast, calling it a “tragic accident” during a routine forensic procedure:
“A huge quantity of explosive substances and chemicals … was being handled with the utmost caution … however, unfortunately … an accidental explosion occurred. Any other speculation … is unnecessary.”
He stressed the sensitive and unstable nature of the seized material, which made the sampling process inherently risky.
Further strengthening this view, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also ruled out a terror angle. In a press briefing, Joint Secretary Prashant Lokhande said that while the cause is under investigation, current evidence points to an accidental explosion as “explosive samples were being forwarded for chemical examination.”
The Explosive Cache: Tied to “White-Collar” Terror Module
The explosives that detonated were part of a massive cache recovered from Faridabad, Haryana, during a probe into a so-called “white-collar” terror module. Authorities say that 360 kilograms of explosive substances – including suspected ammonium nitrate and other reagents – were seized from the residence of Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, who was arrested in connection with the module.
This terror module allegedly involves radicalized professionals. The primary FIR (First Information Report) — FIR No. 162/2025 — was registered at the Nowgam Police Station itself.
Notably, some of the explosive material had been stored at the forensic lab, but a significant portion remained at the Nowgam station, where the investigation was underway.
Prior Links and Context
The module came to light after posters warning of a “spectacular attack” surfaced in mid-October in Bunpora, Nowgam. Frame-by-frame CCTV analysis helped identify three local men who had allegedly pasted the posters. These individuals were later interrogated, which pointed to Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a preacher believed to have radicalized several doctors.
Subsequent investigations led to arrests in Al Falah University, Faridabad, including Dr. Ganaie and Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, and the seizure of the explosives. The same network is also under scrutiny for its possible connection to a car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort earlier this week.
Damage Assessment and Rescue Operations
The Nowgam police station building suffered extensive damage. According to reports, the structure is badly affected, and parts of it could be reduced to rubble. Nearby homes also reported damage: windows shattered and walls cracked, underscoring the force of the explosion.
Rescue workers, including bomb disposal squads, initially faced difficulties due to secondary blasts, which delayed access to the worst-hit areas. A security cordon has been established around the compound, and investigative teams are screening CCTV footage to piece together the sequence of events.
Political Response and Probe
In response to the tragedy, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir has ordered an independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the handling and storage of the explosives. Official sources say the investigation will cover whether safety protocols were followed, chain of custody, and responsibility for risk management.
Meanwhile, the MHA has called for restraint and discouraged premature speculation. Lokhande, the MHA official, reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and emphasized that labeling the event as terror-related is unsubstantiated at this point.
Significance and Broader Implications
This explosion marks a tragic twist in what authorities initially framed as a successful counter-terror operation. The very explosives that were meant to be part of terror investigations have now caused a fatal disaster, raising serious questions about explosive storage protocols, forensic safety practices, and risk assessment during sampling.
In a broader sense, this event underscores the fragility of handling high-risk materials, especially in volatile regions like Kashmir that are already under tight security. The incident could lead to a re-evaluation of how seized explosive materials are processed, where they are stored, and who manages them.
Human Toll and Public Sentiment
Among the dead are not just police officers, but forensic experts, revenue officials, and civilians — including a tailor who was assisting the team. This diverse set of victims reflects how multiple agencies were involved in the counter-terror probe, and how interconnected the risk became.
Locals in Nowgam reported hearing a “loud blast” that shook their homes and left many terrified. Some said they only understood the scale of the disaster the next morning, as rescue teams continued working through rubble and smoke.
Next Steps
As the investigation proceeds:
- Forensic Review: The team will analyze whether standard operating procedures were followed during the sampling and handling of the explosive substances.
- Safety Audit: Authorities are expected to audit how and where seized explosives are stored, possibly revisiting policy on keeping volatile material on-site versus transporting to specialized labs.
- Accountability: Officials will likely scrutinize the role of every agency present — from the FSL to local police and revenue officers — to determine whether negligence played a part.
- Community Impact Assessment: Given the damage to nearby structures and civilian injury, a local assessment may be conducted to provide relief and compensation to affected residents.
The Nowgam police station blast is a deeply tragic incident that highlights serious operational risks in managing seized explosives. While officially declared an accidental explosion, the scale of loss and the sensitive nature of the material demands a full and transparent investigation. Authorities face pressure to not only determine how the accident occurred, but also to reform safety measures — to prevent such disasters in future counter-terror operations.
