Srinagar/Jammu: Several political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the accidental explosion at Nowgam police station in Srinagar that left nine people dead and 32 others injured.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who ordered a probe into the cause of the incident, mourned the loss of lives.
“Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to the extremely tragic accidental blast at Nowgam police station in Srinagar. My condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.
Sinha, who was scheduled to chair a security review meeting in Jammu in the morning, cancelled it in view of the incident, official sources said. Instead he visited Srinagar to take stock of the situation, they said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a post on his official X handle, expressed grief over the incident.
“The chief minister has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic accidental explosion at Nowgam police station, which claimed precious lives and left several personnel injured,” read the post.
Abdullah also extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the swift recovery of all those injured.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah also expressed deep anguish over the blast, and urged the government to extend every possible assistance to the affected families.
He also prayed for the swift and complete recovery of all those injured in the incident.
The ruling party in Jammu and Kashmir, in a statement, said Farooq Abdullah conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and expressed profound sorrow over the loss of precious lives.
He urged the administration to extend every possible assistance to the affected families and ensure that comprehensive support reaches them without delay, the statement said.
The NC president expressed hope that the injured recover soon and that the families of the deceased find strength in this moment of immense grief.
Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said she is deeply anguished by the tragedy.
“This heartbreaking incident lays bare the risks and difficult conditions under which our police personnel serve to keep the rest of us safe. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and prayers for strength and swift recovery for the injured,” Mufti posted on X.
People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone called the incident heartbreaking.
“The accidental blast at the Nowgam police station is heartbreaking. Heartfelt condolences to families of those who lost their lives. In this distressing moment, may they muster the courage to bear this loss,” Lone said.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) president Ghulam Nabi Azad also mourned the deaths.
“Deeply pained by the tragic blast at Nowgam police station, Srinagar, while handling recovered explosive material, which claimed 9 lives and injured many. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the swift recovery of the injured,” he said on X.
Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also expressed grief over the loss of lives in a blast at Nowgam police station, and called for a comprehensive investigation to fix accountability.
“The tragic loss of lives in last night’s explosion at the Nowgam Police Station has left everyone shocked and deeply saddened. A comprehensive investigation is imperative to establish how such a large quantity of explosive material was handled with apparent negligence, resulting in this devastating incident and accountability fixed,” Mirwaiz said in a post on X.
He said the public deserves full transparency regarding the findings.
“May Allah grant his mercy to those who lost their lives and bless their families with patience and strength in this hour of great grief and give speedy recovery to the injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with every affected family,” Mirwaiz said.
