Nowgam tragedy tied to forensic error

A powerful accidental explosion that tore through the Nowgam police station late Friday night, killing nine people, is now believed to have been triggered by intensified lighting used during forensic examination of seized chemicals, officials said on Sunday.

- MPOST BUREAU

Preliminary findings indicate that the excessive illumination deployed by specialists while inspecting the final batch of evidence may have produced enough heat to set off the volatile mixture.

The blast occurred at around 11:20 pm as a forensic team worked on the last boxes of explosive material transported from Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana. Authorities reiterated that the incident was not a terror attack. Separate teams from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory and the National Security Guards visited the site to gather samples and assist in the inquiry.