Nowgam blast exposes fatal lapse during forensic handling of seized explosives

The Central government on November 15 said the powerful late-night explosion that tore through Srinagar’s Nowgam police station was triggered during a forensic sampling procedure involving a large cache of explosives seized in a recent terror-module crackdown.

At least nine people were killed, with officials warning that the toll may rise as rescue efforts continue.

Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary (J&K Division) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the explosion occurred around 11:20 pm November 14 during the examination of material linked to an interstate Jaish-e-Mohammad module busted last week.

“All agencies had been working in a coordinated, scientific manner. The samples were being forwarded for further forensic and chemical analysis. However, during the process, an accidental explosion took place,” he said, adding that speculation beyond the official inquiry was “unnecessary”.

Officials said the forensic sampling had been underway for two days due to the sheer volume of materials recovered. The explosives—part of a massive haul linked to a Red Fort blast-related case—were kept in a designated open area of the police station.

A senior J&K Police officer described the blast as “so powerful” that its shockwave was felt nearly 30 kilometres away. “The police station went up in flames within moments. Adjacent vehicles were gutted and barracks housing personnel suffered extensive damage. Several officers were injured,” the officer said.

Investigators believe the explosion occurred amid the handling of more than 2,900 kg of suspected explosives and components, including 350 kg of ammonium nitrate, potash, phosphorus, reagents, flammable substances, electronic circuits, detonator systems, batteries, wires, remote controls, timers and metal sheets — materials seized over multiple raids across Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

The Nowgam police station had emerged as the command centre of the operation that exposed the interstate JeM network, after investigators probing the appearance of Jaish-linked posters in Srinagar tracked leads across state lines.

Lokhande said the government “stands in solidarity with the families of the deceased in this hour of grief”, even as multiple agencies begin reconstructing the sequence of events that led to one of the deadliest police-station explosions in recent years.