Srinagar: Tragedy struck Sopore town of north Kashmir on Monday when a mysterious blast claimed the lives of four individuals at a scrap dealer's shop in the Shair Colony neighborhood.
The incident occurred as the victims were unloading scrap from a truck that had arrived from Ladakh, officials said. Three people died instantly at the scene, while the fourth succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital
The deceased have been identified as Nazir Ahmad Nadroo, 40; Aazim Ashraf Mir, 20; Aadil Rashid Bhat, 23; and Mohammad Azhar, 25.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Divya D, confirmed the fatalities and said that an investigation is underway. “We have called the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) team to investigate the matter. They had procured scrap from Ladakh and were in the process of unloading it when the blast took place,” she told reporters.
The exact nature and cause of the explosion remain unclear. Authorities are working diligently to uncover the source of the blast and ensure the safety of the local community. The incident has sent shockwaves through Shair Colony, where many families are engaged in similar scrap dealing businesses.
Sopore was the hotbed of separatist violence in the Valley since the insurgency erupted in 1990. However, during the last few years, the area has been peaceful and free of terrorist violence.
Sopore was also the stronghold of hard line separatist leader, late Syed Ali Geelani, who belonged to the area. Geelani died on September 1, 2021.
Published 29 July 2024, 09:59 IST