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Nine killed in accidental explosion at Kashmir police station
A stockpile of confiscated explosives detonated accidentally at a police station in Indian-administered Kashmir late Friday, killing nine people and injuring 32, authorities confirmed. The blast occurred at Nowgam police station in Srinagar, just days after a deadly car explosion in Delhi was labeled a "terror incident" by the government.
Explosion details and official response
The explosives, seized earlier this week from Faridabad in the northern state of Haryana, were being prepared for forensic examination when they detonated at approximately 23:20 local time (17:50 GMT), according to Nalin Prabhat, the region's director general of police. He described the incident as "very unfortunate" and stressed that it was an accident, not a terrorist attack.
"Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary," Prabhat told reporters, dismissing claims of foul play. The police station sustained severe structural damage, while adjacent buildings were also affected. Witnesses reported vehicles engulfed in flames, reduced to charred remains, with debris scattered across the site.
Human toll and recovery efforts
Most of the victims were police officers, along with forensic personnel, two crime scene photographers, and a tailor who was assisting the team. A source told Reuters that the blast's intensity was so powerful that body parts were recovered from nearby houses, located 100-200 meters from the station.
Manoj Sinha, the region's Lieutenant Governor, expressed condolences and announced an investigation. "I have ordered a probe to ascertain the cause of the accidental explosion," he wrote on social media. "Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to this extremely tragic blast. My prayers are with the injured for a speedy recovery."
Context and recent incidents
The explosion follows a separate car blast in Delhi earlier this week, which the Indian government classified as a terror-related attack. While Friday's incident in Kashmir has been deemed accidental, it underscores ongoing security challenges in the region, where tensions and sporadic violence persist.
