A powerful accidental explosion ripped through the Nowgam Police Station near Srinagar late on Friday night, killing at least seven people and injuring others. The blast happened while forensic and police teams were handling seized explosives — including large quantities of ammonium nitrate — that had been transported from Faridabad in Haryana. Authorities are investigating how such a massive stockpile ended up stored in the station and what safety lapses may have led to the detonation.

The material came from a terror-module case: in recent raids, J&K Police and Haryana Police recovered nearly 2,900 kg of explosive materials from a property in Faridabad. Those arrested include at least two doctors, raising concerns over a “white-collar terror network.” After the blast, smaller successive explosives went off, hampering initial rescue efforts. Investigators are exploring two possible causes: mishandling during sample extraction, or a deliberate attack using a rigged IED. The tragedy has sparked strong criticism over the handling and storage of seized explosive material and called for stricter protocols.