Explosive Samples Were Being Forwarded …: Govt Calls J&K Police Station Blast ‘Accidental’ — What the MHA Says

News Article

Srinagar / New Delhi — A serious blast at Nowgam Police Station in Jammu & Kashmir has sparked concern, but the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has now ruled it out as a terror attack. According to the government, the explosion was a tragic accident that happened while police were forwarding explosive samples for forensic testing.

Authorities say that these samples were volatile. They had been seized earlier in a major operation and were being sent for detailed analysis. While being handled, something went wrong — the unstable chemicals detonated, and the blast occurred.

Senior police officers in J&K confirmed that some of the explosive materials came from a large seizure in another city and were transported to the station for proper testing. A forensic team, along with other officials, was present at the time, examining the substances. The timing of the explosion, late at night, added to the disaster’s severity.

According to the MHA, this was not a planned attack, but part of a routine forensic process. Investigators stress that these were samples, not weapons ready for use, and insisted that no terror group was involved. J&K’s top police leadership has echoed these sentiments, calling the blast a “detonation of unstable material” rather than a directed assault.

The blast’s impact was devastating. The station building suffered heavy damage, and nearby premises also felt the force of the explosion. Several vehicles on-site caught fire, and many experienced personnel — forensic experts, crime scene investigators, and revenue officials — were among the casualties. Multiple people were injured, and rescue teams had to deal with smaller successive blasts after the initial explosion.

This incident highlights a troubling risk: the handling of seized explosive substances remains a dangerous job. While law enforcement collects these materials to prevent future attacks, storing or forwarding them for analysis carries its own hazards.

The government has launched a detailed inquiry to find out how safety procedures failed. Authorities are expected to review protocols for transporting and examining highly sensitive materials, with an eye on strengthening safeguards.

For now, the MHA’s message is clear: this was not a terror strike, but a grim accident during forensic testing.