Nine people were killed and 32 others injured in a massive explosion inside the Nowgam Police Station premises late Friday night (November 14, 2025). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has categorized the tragic event as an “unfortunate accidental incident,” dismissing any terror angle.
Deadly Mishap During Forensic Procedure
The deadly blast occurred around 11:20 PM while a joint team of experts was processing a large, unstable cache of explosive substances and chemicals recovered recently from Faridabad, Haryana, in connection with an inter-State terror module investigation.
The deceased include critical members of the team involved in the forensic sampling:
- Three personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL)
- Two Revenue Officials (part of the Magistrate’s team)
- Two Crime Scene Photographers
- One official from the State Investigation Agency (SIA)
- One Civilian (a tailor associated with the team)
Explosives Seized in Major Terror Probe
J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat confirmed the explosion was inadvertent, stating that the recovered materials—which were voluminous and of a highly volatile and sensitive nature—were being handled with extreme caution in a secured open area of the police station as per standard operating procedure. The materials were linked to a wider probe, including the recent Red Fort blast case.
“Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary,” the DGP stated, emphasizing that a formal inquiry has been launched to investigate all technical aspects of the detonation.
Wide Area Impact and Grief
The explosion caused severe damage to the police station building itself, with the impact also affecting multiple surrounding structures. Local residents recounted scenes of chaos and devastation following the loud blast, which shook the entire neighbourhood.
The injured, which include 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians, were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. The government has assured all possible support to the families of the deceased and the injured.
