Explosives Cache Accident in J&K Claims 9 Lives, 32 Injured
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{ "title": "Explosives Cache Accident in J&K Claims 9 Lives, 32 Injured", "article": "A devastating accident occurred at the Nowgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday night when approximately 360 kg of confiscated explosives detonated during forensics sampling. The blast resulted in the loss of nine lives and injured 32 people, including 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians. The explosives were part of a larger haul of close to 2,900 kg materials seized from Faridabad and transported to Jammu and Kashmir. The sampling process had been ongoing for two days, with forensic experts collecting material from the cache and placing it in small bags for further examination. According to Jammu and Kashmir police chief Nalin Prabhat, the incident was an unfortunate accident, and any speculation into the cause of the incident is unnecessary. Prabhat and joint secretary of the Union home ministry Prashant Lokhande read out similar statements before the media in Srinagar and New Delhi, stressing that the incident was an accident. The blast was heard within a radius of 10 to 15 kilometers and left the entire police station severely damaged, with dozens of houses in the vicinity also damaged. The ammonium nitrate in the suitcases was already chemically treated and ready for detonation, an investigator added. The chain of events that led to the discovery of the terror module began when Nowgam station officers began investigating Jaish-e-Mohammed posters in the vicinity of Bonpora locality in mid-October. Investigators now believe the group functioned as a "white-collar terror network" - a sophisticated syndicate of educated individuals using their academic credentials and technical expertise for extremist operations. Teams from the National Investigation Agency, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Haryana Police continue to interrogate suspects and cross-verify call records, digital data, and financial trails. Forensic teams are still analysing remnants of the ammonium nitrate from both Faridabad and Srinagar, and examining whether some of the recovered chemicals were imported or locally synthesised. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed anguish over the loss of lives and ordered a probe. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said the government will compensate for damages caused to nearby structures by the accidental blast at Nowgam police station."
