A massive explosion at Nowgam Police Station in Srinagar killed at least 13 people and injured 51 on Friday night after confiscated ammonium nitrate accidentally detonated during forensic inspection, authorities confirmed. The blast occurred around 11:20 p.m. local time when a Forensic Science Laboratory team, police personnel, and a local tehsildar were examining 2,900 kg of explosive material seized from a terror module linked to the Delhi car bombing.
The explosion ripped through the police station, reducing parts of the building to rubble and causing significant damage to nearby structures. Emergency services rushed to the scene as rescue operations continued through the night. The death toll includes 13 fatalities, with 51 others injured, though initial reports suggested higher casualties.
The ammonium nitrate had been confiscated during a major counter-terrorism operation that began on October 19 when Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) posters appeared in Nowgam, threatening security forces. The investigation led to the busting of an inter-state terror module involving radicalized doctors and professionals, with arrests across Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, a medical professor arrested in Faridabad, had stored 350 kg of the explosive material in his rented accommodation. The total haul from the module included 2,900 kg of IED-making materials, Chinese pistols, assault rifles, and timers. The Nowgam station was central to these investigations, housing the seized evidence.
The blast occurred as officials were examining the unstable explosive, which detonated accidentally. “It was an accidental detonation of ammonium nitrate during forensic inspection,” confirmed a senior police official. The incident is not being treated as a terror attack, though it happened at a station deeply involved in probing the Delhi car blast that killed 13 people on November 10.
The tragic accident highlights the dangers of handling large quantities of unstable explosives. Security forces had been conducting raids across Kashmir, detaining approximately 500 people for questioning in the wake of the Delhi bombing. The Nowgam station had been a key node in investigating the white-collar terror ecosystem involving radicalized professionals.
Investigations continue into how the ammonium nitrate became unstable and what triggered the detonation. The incident has prompted a review of procedures for handling seized explosives, with critics questioning why such a large quantity was stored at a police station rather than a secure military facility.
