New Delhi, 15 Nov

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday said that nine people have been killed and 32 others were injured in a "massive" unfortunate accidental explosion at the Nowgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a press briefing, Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the cause of the incident is being investigated and any other speculation into the cause of the blast was unnecessary.

He said a huge cache of explosive substances and chemicals was recovered during probe into a terror module and kept securely in an open area in the premises of Nowgam police station, located on the outskirts of Srinagar.

As a part of the standard and prescribed procedure, the recovered explosives were forwarded to forensic and chemical examination, Lokhande said.

Because of the voluminous nature of the recovery, the procedure was being continuously carried out for the last two days, he said.

Owing to the "unstable and sensitive" nature of the recovery, it was being handled very carefully under expert supervision, the joint secretary said.

"However, during the process, an accidental explosion took place at about 11.20 pm on the night of November 14. In this unfortunate accidental incident, nine people have lost their lives where as 27 police personnel, two revenue officials and three civilians have received injuries," Lokhande said.

The police station has suffered severe damage, while some other buildings were also affected, he said.

"The cause of the accident is being investigated. However, any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary," the joint secretary said.

SIA inspector, constables killed

State Investigation Agency Inspector Israr Ahmad Shah was among the nine people who were killed in the massive explosion at the Nowgampolice station in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shah, who joined the police force in 2011, is survived by a wife, two young children, and elderly parents.

Hailing from the Drugmulla area of Kupwara district, Shah was known as a soft-spoken person who focused mainly on his work, according to his neighbour Ghulam Mohammad.

The police officer also had a reputation of being helpful, which was evident from the rush of neighbours at his residence as soon as the news of his death reached the village.

Among the deceased were Selection Grade Constables Javaid Mansoor Rather and Arshid Ahmad Shah (both Crime Branch photographers), Selection Grade Constable Aijaz Afzal Mir and Constables Mohammad Amin Mir and Showkat Ahmad Bhat (all three working with the Forensic Science Laboratory).

Naib Tehsildar Muzaffar Ahmed Khan, chowkidar of the area Suhail Ahmad Rather, and Mohammad Shafi Parray, a tailor, were the other persons killed in the accidental blast.

Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat said the blast took place when a team of officials was collecting samples of the explosives seized during the investigation into the 'white collar terror module' case.

"As part of the prescribed procedure, the samples of the recovery had to be forwarded for further forensic and chemical examination. On account of the voluminous nature of the recovery, this process was going on for the past two days by the Forensic Science Laboratory team," Prabhat said.

"Unfortunately, during this course, on Friday night, around 11.20 pm, an accidental explosion took place. Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary," he added.

The top cop said nine people lost their lives in the explosion and 32 others were injured.

He said 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians from the adjacent area sustained injuries in the incident.