What Happened in the Accidental Blast at Nowgam Police Station?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nine fatalities and 29 injuries reported due to the accidental blast.
- Explosion occurred while handling seized explosives.
- Significant damage to surrounding buildings and vehicles.
- Ongoing investigations linked to a white-collar terror module.
- Immediate medical response facilitated for injured individuals.
Srinagar, Nov 15 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred at the Nowgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) Srinagar district, resulting in the loss of nine lives and injuries to 29 individuals, according to official reports released on Saturday.
The catastrophic explosion took place while police personnel, including members of the forensic team, were handling the explosive materials that had previously been seized.
The identities of the deceased are pending confirmation; however, they include a Naib Tehsildar (Executive Magistrate) and a local tailor. Some bodies have suffered severe burn damage, complicating identification efforts.
The injured parties have been transported to the Army's base hospital located in the Badami Bagh area, as well as other medical facilities for urgent treatment, sources have confirmed.
Reportedly, the explosives involved in this incident were confiscated during a raid in Faridabad, which led to the dismantling of a white-collar terror module.
Director General of Police (DGP) J&K, Nalin Prabhat, along with senior police officials, visited the Nowgam police station to evaluate the situation firsthand.
The intensity of the blast was so significant that it shattered windows in surrounding buildings, with the sound echoing up to 5-10 kilometers away from the Nowgam area.
Numerous vehicles parked within the police station premises were engulfed in flames due to the explosion, prompting the deployment of fire services to extinguish the fire.
Ambulances hurried to the scene to transport injured officers to the hospital.
It is noteworthy that 2,900 Kg of ammonium nitrate was previously recovered by J&K Police during the operation in Faridabad, alongside 300 Kg of the same explosive material found during the raid on Dr. Muzammil Ganaie.
While Dr. Adil Rather and Dr. Muzammil Ganaie were apprehended, a third accomplice, Dr. Umar Nabi, managed to evade capture and was later killed in a separate car explosion near the Red Fort, resulting in civilian casualties.
Additionally, a female doctor from Lucknow, Shaheen Shahid, was arrested after an assault rifle was discovered in her vehicle. The investigation into the terror module was significantly advanced following the arrests of two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) organization.