Massive Blast at Srinagar’s Nowgam Police Station Leaves 9 Dead, Over 30 Injured; Probe Reveals Link to Faridabad Terror Case
What was supposed to be a routine forensic procedure turned tragic when the explosives—part of a 350 kg stockpile—detonated, reducing the police building to rubble and torching several vehicles in the compound. CCTV visuals captured the terrifying moment the fireball engulfed the structure, sending debris, flames, and smoke high into the air.
A Night of Chaos and Destruction
Rescue teams rushed to the scene, pulling out the injured and searching for those feared trapped beneath the collapsed structure. Officials warned that the death toll may rise as several victims remain in critical condition. Body parts were found nearly 300 feet away from the blast site, underscoring the immense force of the explosion.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as the shockwave shattered windows in nearby buildings and set off car alarms across the area.
Police: Explosion Was Accidental
Even as a shadow outfit—PAFF, linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed—claimed responsibility for the incident, authorities firmly denied any terror involvement in the explosion itself.
Jammu & Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, addressing the media, said the blast was purely accidental.
“The explosives recovered from Faridabad were extremely sensitive. Our teams were handling them with utmost caution. Unfortunately, an accidental explosion occurred. Any other claims or speculation are unnecessary,” he clarified.
Among the deceased were:
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One State Investigation Agency (SIA) official
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Three Forensic Science Laboratory experts
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Two Crime Wing officials
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Two Revenue Department officers
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A tailor assisting the investigative team
At least 27 police personnel, two revenue officers, and three civilians suffered injuries.
The police station building, the DGP said, was “very severely damaged,” and several surrounding structures also bore the impact of the blast.
Why the Explosives Were Stored in Nowgam
Much of the explosive cache recovered during the Faridabad module investigation was stored inside the Nowgam Police Station, where the primary FIR was registered. Forensic teams had been working on extracting samples for further examination when the blast took place.
Security Tightened Across Kashmir Valley
The area was immediately cordoned off, and sniffer dogs were deployed to ensure no secondary devices were present. Senior officials, including Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, visited hospitals to meet the injured.
This incident comes just days after a deadly explosion inside a Hyundai i20 near Delhi’s Red Fort, which killed at least 13 people. Security agencies had already intensified checks across the region.
How the Faridabad Terror Module Was Cracked
The investigation that led to the explosive recovery began in mid-October when threatening posters surfaced in Nowgam. CCTV analysis led to the arrest of three local youths — all previously booked in stone-pelting cases.
Their interrogation revealed deeper links to radical networks and brought investigators to Faridabad’s Al-Falah University, where two doctors, Muzammil Ganaie and Shaheen Sayeed, were arrested for involvement.
From rented homes and university-linked premises, officials seized:
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350 kg of explosives
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Ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sulphur
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Additional 2,900 kg of chemical stock tied to another Pulwama-based doctor
Hours after these seizures, Delhi witnessed the Red Fort car blast, allegedly involving another doctor, Umar Nabi, who remains a key suspect.
Investigators now believe the terror module was operated primarily by three doctors:
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Dr Muzammil Ganaie (arrested)
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Dr Umar Nabi (suspected driver of the i20 blast car)
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Dr Muzzaffar Rather (absconding)
Another accused, Adeel Rather, was later caught with an AK-56 rifle.
Ongoing Probe
Authorities continue to assess the full extent of damage at the Nowgam Police Station and are questioning whether the explosives should have been stored and handled on-site. A high-level inquiry is also expected into the protocols followed during the forensic handling of the seized material.
