A tragic explosion hit an Indian police station late at night around 11:20 pm, killing nine people and injuring 27. The incident occurred during testing of confiscated explosives connected to suspected ‘white-collar’ terror operatives, officials confirmed.

The incident took place at the Nowgam Police Station in Srinagar, in northern India's Jammu and Kashmir, on November 14.

Visuals show that a late-night blast triggered turmoil at Nowgam Police Station, where dense black smoke rose from burning vehicles and nearby structures left in ruins. Fire and rescue teams, wearing protective gear, moved through scattered debris and flashing emergency lights as they worked to control the situation and assist those affected.

According to reports, nine people were killed and more than 30 others injured in an accidental explosion at Nowgam Police Station late Thursday night, Director General of Police (DGP) J&K, Nalin Prabhat, confirmed on Saturday. The blast took place during the forensic examination of a large quantity of explosives that had been seized in a recent case.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, DGP Prabhat said the explosion occurred around 11:20 pm while the explosives, along with chemicals and reagents recovered earlier this month, were being sampled by the forensic team. The seized material, linked to FIR No. 162/2025, had been recovered from Faridabad on November 9 and 10 and was transported and stored in the open area of the police station following standard safety procedures.

“The volume of the recovered explosives necessitated a careful sampling process, which had been ongoing for the past two days,” Prabhat explained. He emphasized that the materials were highly unstable and sensitive, and that the forensic personnel had been handling them with extreme caution. Despite these measures, an accidental detonation occurred. “Any speculation about the cause of the incident beyond this is unnecessary,” he added.

According to the DGP, the fatalities included one officer from the State Investigation Agency (SIA), three members of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team, two crime photographers, two revenue officials accompanying the magistrate’s team, and a tailor associated with the officials. In addition, 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians residing in nearby areas were injured. All injured individuals were promptly evacuated to hospitals for medical treatment.

The explosion caused extensive damage to the Nowgam Police Station building and affected several adjoining structures. Authorities are assessing the full extent of the destruction, and a formal inquiry has been launched to determine the exact circumstances that led to the accident.
Expressing condolences, DGP Prabhat said, “The J&K Police stands in solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.” He concluded his briefing with a note of respect for the deceased and their families, saying, “Thank you very much. Jai Hind.”