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Gloom gripped parts of the Kashmir Valley connected Saturday (November 15, 2025) arsenic the bodies of 9 persons, killed successful the accidental explosion astatine the Nowgam Police Station connected Friday night, reached their hometowns.
In Nowgam, radical recounted horrific scenes they witnessed aft the blast, arsenic scores of houses bore the interaction of the monolithic explosion.
The harm caused by the almighty detonation was evident successful the remains of the Nowgam constabulary station, a multi-storey gathering located successful a congested locality connected the outskirts of Srinagar. Shattered corridors, burnt records and mangled vehicles are each that is near of the constabulary station, which was investigating the “white collar” inter-State panic module lawsuit since October 19 and recovered astir 2,900 kg of explosive materials successful aggregate raids.
“We were preparing to slumber erstwhile the world shook and model panes were shattered astir 11:20 p.m. connected Friday. A immense brownish glow lit up the skies. In confusion, we rushed to cheque connected the kids and permission the premises. To our shock, we recovered assemblage parts littered astir the area,” said a parent of 2 from Nowgam.
Scores of houses adjacent to the constabulary presumption suffered damages. “Besides the damaged windows, the blast caused cracks successful the walls of houses. I person ne'er seen specified horrific scenes. For a moment, we thought flames could engulf the full area,” said different nonmigratory of Nowgam.
Mere meters distant from the constabulary station, the household of Muhammad Shafi Parray, a tailor by profession, appears shellshocked. “Parray near location astir 10 a.m. to assistance the constabulary with immoderate packing. He returned during the time to connection Friday prayers. He joined the constabulary again successful the afternoon. He was the lone breadwinner for the household of four. The authorities should springiness 1 of his 3 children a occupation to prolong their livelihood,” a comparative said.
A pall of gloom besides descended connected the colony of Javaid Ahmad Rather, who worked arsenic a cameraman with the Crime Branch and was portion of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) squad taking samples of the seized explosives astatine the constabulary station. Rather, who joined successful 2020, is survived by a three-year-old daughter. “He was adjuvant to everyone successful the village. It is tragic to spot the young psyche buried for nary responsibility of his,” a comparative said.
Hundreds of locals attended the past rites of Naib Tehsildar Muzaffar Ahmad astatine Budgam’s Soibugh. Amid sloganeering, the assemblage of Ahmad was lowered into the grave. Newly elected Budgam MLA Aga Muntazir Mehdi was among the mourners. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cancelled each celebrations for its Budgam bypoll triumph aft the Nowgam incident.
Villagers successful Kupwara’s Omerapad, hometown of Sub-Inspector Asrar Ahmad Shah called him a “rolemodel” for section youth. “Ahmad was looked up to by section younker for his professionalism and achievements,” said Nazir Khan, a resident. Ahmad is survived by his wife, 2 kids and elederly parents. Shah was recruited into the constabulary unit successful 2011 and served arsenic an serviceman successful the J&K Police’s Special Cell, State Investigation Agency (SIA). Loud wails filled the aerial arsenic the assemblage of Shah was shifted to the ancestral graveyard, arsenic hundreds joined to connection ceremonial prayers astatine Eidgah.
The Jammu and Kashmir authorities has announced that it would compensate residents for the harm caused to adjacent structures. “The authorities stands firmly with the victims’ families and volition supply each imaginable enactment to them,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said.
According to the police, 32 persons, including 27 constabulary personnel, were injured successful the blast.
