On November 14, 2025, an accidental explosion at the Nowgam police station in Srinagar caused immense loss of life and injury, resulting in nine fatalities and injuring 32 individuals. Political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, expressed their deep sorrow over the incident. Abdullah extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and wished a swift recovery to the injured. Similarly, Mufti emphasized the perilous conditions faced by police personnel while serving the public.
The explosion occurred shortly after 11:20 PM while law enforcement officers were extracting samples from a cache of explosives recently confiscated. The explosives, which had been transported from Faridabad, Haryana, to the Nowgam police station over the previous two days, were stored in air-tight containers for safety. During the sampling process required for further forensic examination, an accidental blast erupted, causing chaos and destruction.
Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has mandated an investigation into the incident. The police have ruled out any connection to terrorism, specifically denying involvement from known Pakistan-based terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed. They noted that the explosives were part of a larger operation aimed at dismantling an inter-state terror module involved in illicit activities. The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Nalin Prabhat, stated that utmost care was taken in handling the explosives to avoid such accidents. However, due to the sensitive nature of the material, an unforeseen explosion occurred, leading to the tragic consequences.
Among those who lost their lives were personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory and the Revenue department, highlighting the risks faced by those on the front line of law enforcement. Public health facilities in Srinagar are treating the injured, some of whom are reported to be in critical condition. Additional condolences poured in from other political figures, including Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta, who also urged for swift efforts towards healing for the affected families.
The investigation into the explosion is ongoing, aiming to clarify the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the event. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of adhering to safety protocols when dealing with hazardous materials to prevent further tragedies in the future.