At least two residential houses near Police Station Nowgam suffered severe damage following a late-night explosion at the station, sending shockwaves through the neighborhood. Locals described the blast as so powerful that they initially feared their homes had collapsed.

Families reported extensive structural damage, including shattered windows, broken ceilings, dislodged kitchen cabinets, and destroyed furniture. “We thought the entire house had fallen and we were buried underneath. Everything was thrown apart. The loss runs into crores,” said one affected resident. Some occupants were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

The explosion occurred while a forensic team, accompanied by police officers and the local Tehsildar, was inspecting a large quantity of seized ammonium nitrate. Authorities have emphasized that the incident was accidental and not linked to militant activity.

Police Station Nowgam itself also sustained significant damage. Inspection rooms and office areas where the explosives were stored were badly affected, with collapsed ceilings, blown-out windows, and destroyed equipment. A senior officer said a structural assessment of the building is underway.