7 killed, 30 injured in explosion inside police station in Indian-controlled Kashmir: local media

NEW DELHI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) : At least seven people were killed and around 30 others injured in a massive explosion inside a police station in Indian-controlled Kashmir, local media reports said Saturday.

The explosion took place late Friday at Nowgam police station in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"At least seven people were killed and around 30 injured after a massive explosion tore through the Nowgam police station in Srinagar late Friday night, with officials warning the toll could rise," a local television news channel India Today said.

Following the explosion, a fire engulfed the building and several vehicles parked inside its premises. Eyewitnesses and video footage from the area show the blast ripping through the building, sending flames and thick smoke into the air.

According to the channel, the explosion happened while policemen and forensic teams were handling the explosive material brought from Faridabad (Haryana) and stored inside the police station as part of the investigation into the recent car bomb explosion in Delhi.

Another media report said most of those killed at the police station are policemen and forensic team officials, who were examining the explosives.

Police have not issued any statement on the explosion so far.

Immediately after the blast, many fire tenders and ambulances were rushed to the police station to douse the fire and remove the injured to the nearest hospitals.

A deadly car explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi on Monday killed eight people on the spot and injured 20 others. However, local media reports later put the death toll at 13.