Nowgam Blast Is Accidental: J&K DGP Rules Out Terror Angle

An accidental explosion at the Nowgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir resulted in nine fatalities and numerous injuries. Investigations are ongoing following the mishandling of explosive materials. The blast caused significant damage and raised concerns in the local community.

J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat on Saturday dismissed terror involvement in the explosion at the Nowgam police station resulted in nine fatalities, including three State Investigation Agency personnel, two crime photographers, two revenue officials, and a tailor.

The top cop confirmed that the blast was "accidental" and the incident occurred while handling explosive materials seized from Faridabad.

He said, "During the investigation in FIR 162 of 2025 of PS Nowgam, a huge quantity of explosive substances, chemicals and regents were also recovered from Faridabad on 9th and 10th of November, 2025. This recovery, like the rest of the recoveries which we have done, was transported and kept securely in the open area of the Police Station Nowgam."

The forensic team was processing these substances when the explosion happened at around 11:20 PM on 14 November 2025. "He added, "Due to the unstable and sensitive nature of the recovery, the sampling process and handling was being done with utmost caution by the FSL team. However, unfortunately, during this course, last night, around 11.20 PM, an accidental explosion took place."

He also ruled out the terror angle in the incident. "Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary."

Explosive Material Handling

The explosive materials were part of a significant recovery operation involving 2,900 kg of chemicals linked to a 'white-collar' terror module. This cache was discovered at the rented residence of Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, who had been arrested earlier. Some of these materials were stored at the forensic lab, but most remained at the Nowgam police station.

Local residents experienced fear and chaos due to the blast's impact. Shafad Ahmed recounted hearing a loud explosion late at night, which left him shaken. He expressed concern about his relatives living near the police station but was unable to reach them due to security restrictions.

Casualties and Damage

The explosion injured 27 police officers, two revenue officials, and three civilians. They were promptly taken to the hospital for treatment. The blast severely damaged the police station building and affected nearby structures as well. Authorities are currently assessing the full extent of the damage caused by this incident.

Following the main explosion, smaller successive blasts occurred, complicating rescue operations by bomb disposal teams. Emergency sirens blared as efforts continued to manage the situation and ensure safety in the area.

Community Impact

A local resident mentioned that their house was only three buildings away from the blast site and noted that all nearby homes suffered damage. The community remains concerned about potential civilian casualties as information is still being gathered.

Six unidentified bodies were retrieved from the site and moved to Srinagar's Police Control Room for further identification processes. Meanwhile, DGP Nalin Prabhat plans to address media representatives at 10:00 AM at this location to provide updates on ongoing investigations.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have expressed solidarity with victims' families during this difficult time. Investigations into what led to this unfortunate event continue as authorities seek answers regarding how such an accident could occur under controlled conditions.