A powerful explosion occurred in the compound of Nowgam police station in Srinagar, the capital of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, killing 7 people and injuring dozens.
According to news agencies, the entire area was engulfed in smoke and fire after the explosion. Indian media initially reported that the explosion occurred due to the explosion of ammonium nitrate in the custody of the police; however, local sources said that the intensity of the explosion was much more than a minor accident, which caused widespread destruction inside the police station.
According to officials, according to information received so far, 7 people have died, while more than 27 injured people are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, many of whom are said to be in critical condition.
According to reports, several vehicles parked inside the police station caught fire after the explosion and were completely burnt to ashes. A large part of the building was also severely damaged, with reports of walls collapsing and glass breaking, causing further damage.
The fire brigade and rescue teams that arrived at the scene were able to control the fire after several hours of struggle, however, the work of removing the debris and searching for the missing persons is still ongoing.
Indian authorities, fearing a rise in the death toll, have said that a full search operation is underway in the affected part of the police station, while it is also being investigated how such a large amount of ammonium nitrate was stored there and what safety measures were taken.
Local political leaders have described the incident as administrative incompetence and said that the negligence of security agencies in occupied Kashmir is leading to the loss of human lives.
A curfew-like situation has been imposed in the area following the blast, while security has been tightened in the surrounding areas. Authorities say that all aspects of the investigation are being reviewed to bring out the real facts.
