What caused the deadly Nowgam Police Station blast that killed 9 and injured 32?
Srinagar (J&K), November 15, 2025 —A massive late-night explosion that reduced the Nowgam Police Station to debris has left nine people dead and 32 injured, raising urgent questions about what triggered the tragedy. Hours later, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified that the blast was an “unfortunate accidental incident.”
Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir Division (MHA), said the explosion occurred at 11:20 pm on November 14 inside the police station compound.
According to officials, the Nowgam Police had recently busted a terror module after detecting clues in a suspicious poster, leading to the recovery of a large cache of explosives and chemicals. The seized materials were being held in the station’s open area under FIR No. 162/2025, in accordance with standard procedures.
For two days, multiple agencies had been processing the recovered explosives and preparing them for forensic and chemical analysis. Due to the extremely volatile nature of the substances, experts were supervising every step of the handling and documentation process.
The cache — including 360 kg of explosives — had been recovered from the rented house of arrested doctor Muzammil Ganaie. While officials moved some of the explosive material to the police forensic laboratory, the bulk remained stored at the Nowgam Police Station, where the primary case related to the terror network had been registered.
However, during routine processing on Friday night, a sudden and powerful accidental detonation took place, Lokhande said. The blast killed nine individuals instantly and left 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians injured. The wounded were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment.
The impact of the explosion was devastating, flattening the police station and damaging several surrounding structures, highlighting the sheer force of the blast.
Although preliminary findings indicate an accidental detonation, Lokhande emphasized that the exact cause is still under investigation. He urged the public to avoid speculation until all technical assessments are completed.
The government expressed deep condolences, stating it “stands in solidarity with the families of the deceased” and assured full support for the injured.
This tragedy, officials noted, is a chilling reminder of the catastrophic damage the seized explosives could have caused across urban centers had the terror module not been intercepted in time.