The site of the blast at Sopore’s Shair Colony. (Photo: X/@SoporeNews1)
Srinagar/New Delhi: A powerful explosion ripped through a crowded area in Sopore, Kashmir, on Monday, killing at least four people and injuring several others. Emergency services rushed to the scene to treat the wounded and evacuate civilians.
The nature of the blast is yet to be confirmed, with authorities launching an investigation into the incident.
Talking to reporters, the Sopore Police superintendent, Divya D, said the explosion took place in the Sopore’s Shair Colony when the deceased were unloading the scrap brought from Ladakh. She said all the four who were killed in the explosion were scrap dealers.
#Watch: Sopore Blast: Case registered, investigations taken up, says SP Divya D@SoporePolice pic.twitter.com/LbzAgFHVq0
— Greater Kashmir (@GreaterKashmir) July 29, 2024
The deceased have been identified as Adil Rashid Bhat, Azam Ashraf Mir, Mohammad Azhar, and Nazir Ahmad Nadroo.
Local residents reported hearing a loud bang followed by chaos as people fled the scene. The explosion caused significant damage to nearby buildings and vehicles. It is suspected that unexploded or old and unused munitions from the forward area got mixed in the scrap in Ladakh, which was then brought to Kashmir.
Police cordoned off the area as forensic experts examined the site for clues.
Sopore, which is in Baramulla district, has been one of the worst militancy-hit regions of Kashmir. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many expressing anger and fear.
