Nowgam, (Jammu and Kashmir)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited a hospital in Srinagar to meet the injured from the accidental Nowgam police station blast.

The accidental explosion inside the Nowgam Police Station late Friday night left nine personnel dead and 32 others injured and caused extensive damage to the nearby building.

Expressing his condolences to the families of the deceased, CM Abdullah told reporters, "The investigation has begun. I hope that people will get answers, because this should not have happened. Such a large quantity of explosives was brought in, under what circumstances it was brought, under what conditions it was kept, and how it was being handled. Slowly, we will get answers to all these questions. But for now, I have come only to express sympathy and condolences to all those families whose loved ones are no longer in this world. I have come to the hospital to inquire about those who were injured."

The Chief Minister praised the staff of Ujala Cygnus Hospital in Srinagar for their prompt response to the blast.

"I am grateful to this hospital, because they were the first to reach. They did not even wait for a telephone call. They saw from the window that an explosion had occurred. There was fire, and they immediately sent their ambulance. Their team reached the spot first and rescued the injured people. Even today, the injured are being treated in this hospital. Four people are admitted in the ICU. I hope all of them will recover and be sent back home."

CM Abdullah said that the government has already provided compensation to the victims' families from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Regarding the structural damage to houses, the CM said that a case is being prepared to provide compensation. He also suggested that the Home Department and LG funds should be used to support the affected families.

CM Abdullah said, "We have already provided the compensation that had to be announced from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. After that, regarding the structural damage to the houses, the MLA sahib spoke about it, and a case is being prepared for that as well. Whatever we can provide as per the procedure, we will provide. Besides, since this blast occurred in a police station, it is expected that funds kept with the Home Department and funds kept with our LG sahib should also be used to give some money to the house owners, so the damage can be repaired."

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CM Abdullah stated that he had requested in the North Zonal Council meeting to ensure that innocent people are not dragged into suspicion due to the blast.