Nine people died and 27 were injured Friday, November 14, in India-administered Kashmir when an “accidental” explosion ripped through a police station during a forensic examination of seized explosives, authorities said.
The catastrophic blast occurred at the Naogum police station in the Jammu and Kashmir region, a federally administered territory.
Nalin Prabhat, the police commander for Jammu and Kashmir, stated the deceased included police personnel, government officials, and forensic staff.
Prabhat characterized the incident as an “accidental explosion,” explicitly adding there was “no indication of militant involvement” and that “any other speculation about the cause of this incident is unnecessary.”
He noted that forensic and chemical teams were examining previously seized explosives. Prabhat claimed the process of collecting and handling these materials was conducted with “extreme care” by laboratory teams.
Despite official assurances, the force of the blast was immense. A police source, who asked not to be named, reported that body parts were discovered in homes up to 200 meters (650 feet) away from the police station.
Identifying the victims is proving challenging due to the severity of the burns; some bodies were reportedly charred beyond recognition.
The explosion happened around 11:20 PM India Standard Time (IST). Local police had initially informed Reuters of a powerful blast and a subsequent fire that required fire engines to control.
The incident occurred just four days after a separate car bomb in India’s capital, New Delhi, killed at least eight people. The Indian government classified that car bomb as a “terrorist incident.”
Kashmir is a flashpoint territory disputed by India and Pakistan. Both nations claim the region in its entirety but control only parts of it, having fought multiple wars over the decades.