A massive accidental blast at Nowgam Police Station in Srinagar killed nine people and injured 32 after explosives seized in the Faridabad terror module case detonated during handling. The explosion flattened the building, triggered a major rescue operation, and intensified scrutiny of the terror network behind the seized 350 kg explosive cache.

At least nine people were killed and 32 were injured after a powerful explosion ripped through the Nowgam Police Station in Srinagar on Friday night. The blast occurred while officials were extracting and sealing samples from a large quantity of explosives recovered in the Faridabad terror module case. The explosion gutted the police station, damaged nearby structures, and sent debris and body parts flying up to 300 feet away. Rescue teams worked through the night, searching for the missing and assisting the critically injured.

Explosion Declared Accidental Amid Conflicting Claims

The PAFF, associated with Jaish-e-Mohammad, reportedly claimed responsibility for the incident, but J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat dismissed the claim. He stated that the blast was purely accidental and occurred during the careful handling of the sensitive materials. Among the dead were an SIA officer, three FSL experts, members of the crime wing, revenue officials, and a tailor assisting the team. Over two dozen police personnel and three civilians were among the injured. Authorities said the police station suffered “severe” damage and a full assessment is underway.

Security Tightened After Massive Explosive Recovery

Much of the 350 kg explosive cache seized in the Faridabad terror module case had been stored at the Nowgam station, where the primary FIR was registered. Security forces cordoned off the area and sniffer dog teams scanned the compound. Senior officials, including Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, visited hospitals to meet the injured. The blast came just hours after the DGP conducted a hybrid security review across the Union Territory following a car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort earlier in the week that killed 13.

Arrest Trail Reveals Deepening Terror Network

The terror module unravelled after threatening posters appeared in Nowgam in mid-October, leading to the arrest of three local men with prior stone-pelting charges. Their interrogation exposed the role of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a preacher who allegedly radicalised several doctors. The probe later spread to Al-Falah University in Faridabad, where two doctors were arrested, and nearly 3,000 kg of additional bomb-making chemicals were recovered. Investigators believe the module was run by doctors Muzammil Ganaie, Umar Nabi, and the absconding Muzzaffar Rather. Another accused, Adeel Rather, was arrested with an AK-56 rifle.

As investigators continue to piece together the terror network, the Nowgam blast has intensified concerns about the scale of the operation and the risks posed during the handling of such massive, volatile recoveries.