An accidental explosion at a police station in Indian-administered Kashmir has left nine people dead and dozens injured. The blast occurred late Friday in Srinagar’s Nowgam area while forensic specialists and police officers were analyzing confiscated explosive materials.
The region’s senior police official confirmed the incident was accidental, stating that investigators were taking samples from seized bomb-making components when the detonation occurred. Most casualties were police personnel and forensic experts, with multiple reports indicating some injured remain in critical condition.
The explosion ignited fires throughout the police compound and damaged several vehicles. Witness accounts described secondary explosions that initially hampered rescue efforts.
This tragedy follows another major explosion earlier this week in New Delhi, where eight people died in a vehicle blast near the historic Red Fort. Authorities had labeled that incident a terrorist attack.
In related developments, security forces recently dismantled an alleged militant network operating from the disputed region, arresting several individuals including two medical professionals from Indian cities. The explosive materials involved in Friday’s blast were reportedly part of evidence collected during that investigation.
Security agencies have intensified operations across Kashmir following the Delhi explosion, conducting numerous raids and detaining multiple individuals for questioning. The police official emphasized that the confiscated materials had been stored in a secured open area of the police station and reiterated that the explosion was accidental, discouraging further speculation about its cause.
