Deadly Blast Rocks Police Station in Srinagar
A devastating accidental explosion at a police station in Indian-controlled Kashmir has resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, with a further 32 individuals injured. The incident occurred in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, the region's primary city, late on Friday.
Investigation Turns Tragic
According to the region's police director general, Nalin Prabhat, the blast took place while a team of forensic experts and police officers were examining a cache of explosive material that had been previously confiscated. Prabhat explicitly ruled out any foul play, confirming the event was a tragic accident.
The powerful explosion ripped through the police station, setting the building and several vehicles ablaze. Local media reports indicated that a series of smaller, successive explosions hampered initial rescue efforts, delaying the emergency response.
Context and Aftermath
This tragedy comes just days after a separate, deadly car blast in New Delhi, which killed at least eight people near the historic Red Fort. Indian authorities have labelled that event a "heinous terror incident."
Officer Prabhat provided further context, explaining that the explosive material involved in the police station blast had been seized in the city of Faridabad. This seizure was part of an operation where police dismantled a suspected militant cell, arresting seven individuals. The materials were reportedly "kept securely in an open area" at the Nowgam station, where the investigation originated.
Most of the deceased were police and forensic officials. Many of the injured were said to be in a critical condition following the blast. Indian security agencies have been conducting extensive raids across Kashmir in connection with the New Delhi car explosion, questioning hundreds and detaining scores of people.
