Sopore: Four persons were killed in a blast in the Sopore area of north Kashmir on Monday, officials said here.
The blast occurred inside the yard of a scrap dealer at Sher Colony in Sopore town of Baramulla district.
Some people were unloading scrap from a truck when the incident occurred, the officials said.
While two persons died on the spot, two others succumbed to injuries later, they said, adding the deceased have been identified as Nazir Ahmad Nadroo (40), Aazim Ashraf Mir (20), Aadil Rashid Bhat (23) and Mohammad Azhar (25).
All the victims were residents of Sher Colony.
The exact nature and cause of the explosion was not immediately known. A team of forensic experts has been rushed to the site, the officials added.
SP Sopore Divya D confirmed the blast resulting in the death of four people, saying that an investigation has been initiated.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud bang followed by a plume of smoke rising from the site. The cause of the explosion remains unclear.
Emergency services were quick to respond, with fire brigades and ambulances arriving at the scene within minutes. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, where doctors declared three of them dead and another critically injured was rushed to SKIMS Soura, however, he also succumbed to injuries later.
Following the incident, security forces cordoned off the area, as forensic experts gathered evidence. Preliminary reports suggest that the blast could have been caused by some explosive materials mixed with the scrap. However, no definitive conclusions have been reached as of now.
Local officials have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted to prevent such incidents in the future. The authorities have also urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities in the area.
