Image Source mathrubhumi
SRINAGAR, JAMMU & KASHMIR — A massive explosion at the Nowgam police station on the outskirts of Srinagar late Friday night resulted in the deaths of nine people and left 32 others injured, according to officials.
The authorities, including the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), have categorically termed the incident an “unfortunate accidental explosion,” ruling out any terror angle.
The blast occurred around 11:20 PM on Friday, November 14, 2025, while a joint team of police, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) experts, and Revenue officials was in the process of examining and sampling a large cache of seized explosive materials.
Unstable Seized Material Cited as Cause
The explosive material—part of a massive nearly 2,900 kg cache of chemicals and bomb-making equipment—had been transported to the Nowgam police station from Faridabad, Haryana. The materials were recovered during the investigation into an inter-state ‘white-collar’ terror module, which was registered at the same police station.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP), Nalin Prabhat, confirmed the incident was accidental. “Due to the unstable and sensitive nature of the recovered material, the sampling process and handling were being carried out with extreme caution by the FSL team,” DGP Prabhat said. “However, during this course, an accidental explosion took place.”
MHA Joint Secretary Prashant Lokhande echoed this, stating that the large volume of the recovery required the forensic process to be carried out over two continuous days.
Casualties Include Key Officials
The nine people killed in the blast were not all police personnel, highlighting the multi-agency nature of the work being conducted. The deceased include:
- One official from the State Investigation Agency (SIA).
- Three personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).
- Two Crime Photographers.
- Two Revenue Officials (including a Naib Tehsildar).
- One civilian (reported to be a tailor).
Of the 32 injured, 27 were police personnel, two were revenue officials, and three were civilians from adjacent areas. The injured were immediately evacuated and rushed to local hospitals for medical care.
The force of the explosion caused severe structural damage to the police station building and also impacted nearby houses and structures.
An official probe has been ordered into the circumstances leading to the blast.
Links to Terror Module Investigation
The explosives were central to the probe of a terror module that was busted after police traced objectionable posters in Nowgam.
The investigation led to arrests in Faridabad, including that of a doctor, and the seizure of the vast quantity of chemicals, which included suspected Ammonium Nitrate and other reagents.
Authorities maintain that while the explosion is a tragic accident, the underlying investigation into the terror module remains a major success.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his grief over the loss of lives and has ordered a thorough inquiry into the tragic accident.
[Newsroom article is original. Facts are honestly sourced and rephrased from The Hindu, NDTV, India Today, The Indian Express, and others (Nov 10–12, 2025). No text copied.]
