Srinagar, Nov 15: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Saturday termed the explosion at Nowgam Police Station as an “unfortunate incident,” firmly dismissing any terror involvement and urging the public to refrain from engaging in “unnecessary speculation.”

Addressing a press conference at the Police Control Room (PCR) in Srinagar, the DGP explained that a large quantity of explosive material, seized during a recent anti-terror operation in Faridabad, had been brought to the Nowgam Police Station for forensic sampling. The material was being handled with extreme caution due to its unstable nature.

“Due to the voluminous nature of the recovery, the sampling process of the explosive material was taking place for the last two days, yesterday and the day before, for forwarding the samples for further forensic and chemical examination.

“Due to the unstable and sensitive nature of the explosive material, handling was being done with extreme caution.

“Unfortunately around 11.20 pm on Friday, there was accidental explosion of the seized material.

“Any other further speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary. In this unfortunate incident, nine people have lost their lives. One personnel of the Special Investigation Agency, two revenue officers, three personnel of FLS team, two crime branch photographers and a tailor have lost their lives.

“The police station building was severely damaged and adjacent buildings were also affected. The cause for this unfortunate incident is unclear right now. Police stands firmly with the families of the deceased.”


Also read: Tragedy At Nowgam Police Station: 9 Killed As Seized Explosives Go Off During Forensic Probe

It may be noted at least nine people were killed, while over 15 sustained injuries in a blast that occurred inside Nowgam Police Station during forensic probe of the explosive material that had been brought from Haryana's Faridabad recently.

The injured are reportedly undergoing treatment at Army’s base hospital in Badami Bagh area and the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKICC) Soura.

The impact of the blast was so intense that it shattered the glass of buildings around it. A number of vehicles parked inside the police station also caught fire due to the massive explosion.