Srinagar: Hours after a tragic explosion at the Nowgam police station in Srinagar claimed nine lives, the Jammu and Kashmir Police clarified that reports linking the incident to Pakistan-based terrorist groups or their proxies were “baseless and mischievous.”
A police spokesperson stated, “The claim of PAFF or any other Pakistani terrorist group is patently false, baseless, and mischievous.” Earlier, J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat emphasized that preliminary findings indicate the blast occurred inadvertently during a mandated forensic procedure, and that speculation was unnecessary.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) described the incident as an accident. Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary (J&K Division), MHA, explained, “Yesterday, at around 11:20 pm, an unfortunate accidental explosion took place inside Nowgam Police Station. During the investigation of a terror module, a large cache of explosive substances and chemicals had been recovered and kept securely in an open area of the station. As part of standard procedures, these materials were being processed for forensic examination. Due to their unstable and sensitive nature, they were being handled with utmost care. However, during this process, an accidental explosion occurred.”
The blast killed nine people and injured 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians. Those injured were immediately rushed to hospitals for medical treatment. The explosion also caused severe damage to the police station building and surrounding structures, including several vehicles.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and confirmed that a probe has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the accident. In an X post, he stated, “Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to the extremely tragic accidental blast at Nowgam police station in Srinagar. My condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The government stands in solidarity with the families, friends, and loved ones of the departed, and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected.”
