Nine personnel, including forensic experts and police officials, were killed and 32 others injured in a massive explosion that ripped through the Nowgam Police Station late Friday night (November 14, 2025). The Union government and J&K Police have unequivocally ruled out any terror angle, classifying the tragedy as an “unfortunate accidental incident.”
The incident is a devastating fallout of the successful operation that busted an inter-State terror module linked to the recent Delhi Red Fort blast.
Deadly Detonation During Sensitive Procedure
The explosion, which occurred around 11:20 PM, took place while a joint team—comprising personnel from the police, State Investigation Agency (SIA), Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and revenue officials—was involved in the mandated procedure of sampling a huge cache of seized explosive substances and chemicals.
The explosive materials, which were highly volatile and sensitive, were recovered from Faridabad, Haryana, during the ongoing investigation into the ‘white-collar terror module’ case (FIR 162/2025). J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat confirmed the materials had been kept securely in an open area of the police station due to their voluminous nature (approximately 2,900 kg of chemical cache) and were being handled with expert caution.
💔 Nine Lives Lost in the Line of Duty
The accidental detonation resulted in the immediate loss of nine lives. The deceased included:
- Three personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL)
- One official from the State Investigation Agency (SIA)
- Two Crime Scene Photographers
- Two Revenue Officials (part of the Magistrate’s team)
- One Civilian associated with the team
A total of 32 individuals, including 27 police personnel, sustained injuries and were immediately rushed to local hospitals.
🏛️ Government Rules Out Terror, Orders Inquiry
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), through Joint Secretary Prashant Lokhande, confirmed the incident was an accident, urging the public to refrain from unnecessary speculation.
The government’s immediate and unified response aims to reinforce the narrative that the blast was a tragic consequence of the security forces’ success against terrorism, rather than a failure of security:
“The cause of the incident is being investigated, however, any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary. The government stands in solidarity with the families of the deceased,” the MHA stated.
The Lieutenant Governor of J&K has ordered a detailed inquiry to investigate the technical aspects that led to the accidental explosion during the forensic process. The blast caused severe structural damage to the police station building and affected adjacent residential structures, prompting an urgent safety review in the area.
