Nine people have lost their lives and 32 others are fighting for their lives after a stash of explosives, recently seized by police in Indian-controlled Kashmir, went off in a blast at a local police station.
The explosion happened late on Friday evening in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, when forensic experts and police were examining confiscated explosive material. Police director general Nalin Prabhat has ruled out any involvement of foul play, stating that it was an accident.
Most of those who lost their lives are police officials or forensic staff members, while some of those injured are in critical condition. The blast also set the police station and several vehicles on fire. According to local reports, the initial blast prevented immediate rescue operations from taking place.
This incident has been linked to a series of security raids carried out by Indian authorities in Kashmir following Monday's deadly car bombing in New Delhi, which killed eight people near Red Fort. In that incident, Indian officials described it as a "heinous terror attack" carried out by "anti-national forces".
The explosion took place hours after the discovery of a suspected militant cell operating from disputed Kashmir and its dismantling by police. At least seven individuals were arrested, including two doctors from Indian cities, along with large quantities of bomb-making materials seized in Faridabad.
As part of their investigation into Monday's car bombing, security agencies have been carrying out raids in Kashmir, questioning hundreds and detaining scores of people. Police had brought the explosive material seized in Faridabad to Kashmir for investigation, keeping it securely in an open area at the police station where the investigation began last month.
A team of experts was taking samples for forensic analysis when the blast occurred, which authorities described as an "accidental explosion". Director general Prabhat has also cautioned against speculation into the cause of this incident, stating that any other theories are unnecessary.
The explosion happened late on Friday evening in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, when forensic experts and police were examining confiscated explosive material. Police director general Nalin Prabhat has ruled out any involvement of foul play, stating that it was an accident.
Most of those who lost their lives are police officials or forensic staff members, while some of those injured are in critical condition. The blast also set the police station and several vehicles on fire. According to local reports, the initial blast prevented immediate rescue operations from taking place.
This incident has been linked to a series of security raids carried out by Indian authorities in Kashmir following Monday's deadly car bombing in New Delhi, which killed eight people near Red Fort. In that incident, Indian officials described it as a "heinous terror attack" carried out by "anti-national forces".
The explosion took place hours after the discovery of a suspected militant cell operating from disputed Kashmir and its dismantling by police. At least seven individuals were arrested, including two doctors from Indian cities, along with large quantities of bomb-making materials seized in Faridabad.
As part of their investigation into Monday's car bombing, security agencies have been carrying out raids in Kashmir, questioning hundreds and detaining scores of people. Police had brought the explosive material seized in Faridabad to Kashmir for investigation, keeping it securely in an open area at the police station where the investigation began last month.
A team of experts was taking samples for forensic analysis when the blast occurred, which authorities described as an "accidental explosion". Director general Prabhat has also cautioned against speculation into the cause of this incident, stating that any other theories are unnecessary.
. I was thinking about how they must have been handling that explosive material and then it just went off 
. The fact that it was an accident doesn't make it any less tragic though. 9 people lost their lives, that's just not okay 
. And the poor forensic staff members and police officials who were there at the time... I feel so bad for them 
. It's also worrying to think about how they might have been able to prevent it if someone had noticed something before it happened 
. Anyway, I guess this is just a reminder that even with security measures in place, accidents can still happen 
.
what's going on in Kashmir is just getting crazier... 32 people fighting for their lives after a bunch of explosives went off at a police station? That's insane! I don't believe the accident theory either, accidents happen but with all these raids and security measures in place, it's hard to see how this could have been an honest mistake. And now they're saying it's just an "accidental explosion"? Are we really buying that? 
I'm still shaking my head over this. Can't believe what happened to those poor guys at the police station. 9 lives lost and 32 more fighting for theirs? It's just heartbreaking. The authorities say it was an accident, but I just can't help feeling that something fishy is going on here. All these raids and arrests in Kashmir, and then this explosion happens... it's like a domino effect of chaos. My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives. We need more answers, not just "it was an accident" 
what's goin on in Kashmir fam?! first car bombing and now this explosion at the police station... it's like, 1 day, 8 dead, 32 injured? 
anyway, hope the injured recover soon 