J&K: Blast at Nowgam Police Station; 9 killed, 29 injured

Srinagar: At least 9 people were killed and 29 others were injured in a massive explosion at Nowgam Police Station late Friday night. Police sources said that the death toll could rise, and at least six of the injured officials are critical. The injured have been shifted to Ujala Cygnus, SMHS, and 92 Base Hospital. A high alert has been issued in the area. Several people are feared dead in the blast. Most of the injured are policemen. Police sources said that the death toll could rise, and at least six of the injured officials are critical. According to sources, the explosion occurred when a police team, along with a magistrate and forensic officials, was taking samples from the explosive materials recovered from Haryana’s Faridabad last week. The explosion was so powerful that it was heard not only in Nowgam but also in Chanpora, Sanatnagar, Rawalpora, and Pantha Chowk areas. More than a dozen vehicles caught fire. The blast also caused significant damage to nearby homes, shattering windows. Massive explosion inside Nowgam police station According to reports, the explosion was caused by explosive material recovered from the same terrorist module recently apprehended by Nowgam police. This same terrorist module carried out the blast near Delhi's Red Fort. Jammu and Kashmir Police say that a forensic team had arrived to examine the seized ammonium nitrate. Currently, officials are not calling it a terrorist attack, but an accident. Police officials have confirmed that this was not a terrorist attack, but an accidental explosion. The incident occurred during a routine inspection and sampling process involving a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team, local police personnel, and a Tehsildar (revenue officer). Several vehicles burned to ashes Several police vehicles were reduced to ashes following the blast, and debris was scattered far and wide. The thick smoke from the explosion shattered windows of nearby homes and buildings, including in neighboring areas like Rawalpora. Eyewitnesses reported that a massive fire broke out after the explosion. The flames were visible from afar. Windows of the police station and surrounding buildings were shattered. Fire brigade vehicles arrived at the scene to control the fire. A state of panic prevailed everywhere. No one was allowed to approach the blast site. Fire brigade and ambulance vehicles arriving at the scene It should be noted that this is the police station whose investigation led to the busting of terrorist modules of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AJAUH). Following the arrest of two Overground Workers (OGWs) following an investigation by the SHO of the police station, 2,900 kilograms of explosives and a large quantity of weapons were recovered in Faridabad. The injured are being treated at the hospital. It is noteworthy that a white i20 car exploded near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station on November 10th at around 6:52 p.m., killing 13 people and injuring 20 others, three of whom are in critical condition. The central government has declared the Delhi blast a terrorist attack. A resolution was passed on Wednesday at the Union Cabinet meeting regarding the terror attack near the Red Fort. Major explosion in Nowgam at night Nowgam police station is a security-critical location, as the first FIR in the inter-state terror module case, which is currently under investigation, was registered there. Consequently, this blast is being seen as a retaliatory act related to the investigation. At present, the area has been cordoned off and rescue and relief operations are underway.