Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Nov 16: The Nowgam area of Srinagar is shrouded in grief following a devastating accidental blast at the local police station on Friday night that claimed nine lives. Among the victims was Mohammad Shafi, a master tailor, whose death has left his impoverished family shattered and pleading for government assistance.
Described by neighbors as a noble and helpful soul, Shafi was the sole breadwinner for his family. His sudden death leaves behind a wife, two sons, and a daughter, all of whom are unmarried and now face an uncertain future.
A neighbor, recounting the tragic night while speaking with The Web Story/The Varmul Post, detailed Shafi’s final hours. “His shop is at Wanabal Chowk. He had gone there on Friday morning with his sewing machine for work. He returned home for prayers and a meal, and went back to the police station after Friday prayers. The unfortunate incident happened around 11 PM,” the neighbor stated.
The family’s profound loss is compounded by their precarious financial situation. “We appeal to the government,” the neighbor implored. “Others who lost their lives were government employees, but he was a civilian, so there is nothing left for his family. His children are innocent and unmarried, and their circumstances are not good. The government must look into this.”
“Mohammad Shafi has given his life to the nation, he will not return,” one relative said. “But he has left his family behind. The government must take care of them.”
An explosion stole the music of his sewing machine. The hands that mended our clothes were broken by a blast that could not be mended said Sameer Ahmad.
He said Shafi was a man who stitched things whole. A blast tore him apart, leaving a silence no thread can ever repair.
Inside the family’s home, the atmosphere is one of unbearable loss. The tailor’s sister wept uncontrollably, stating, “We are exhausted from crying. Our support, our guide has been taken from us. What will we do here alone now?”
His wife’s heart-rending wails filled the room, a testament to shattered dreams. “Where have you gone?” she cried, her voice breaking with despair. “On whose support are we left? Who will take care of us?”
A relative, tears streaming down her face, remembered Shafi as a dedicated family man. “He came from a very poor family and has left behind innocent children. He worked hard day in and day out for their survival. He was a noble soul, always helpful to everyone.”
The blast, which occurred late at night, sent shockwaves through the entire area. “It was as if an atom bomb had fallen,” said a senior citizen of the area. “The news of Shafi’s death has broken the back of our locality.”
He highlighted the tailor’s critical role, stated, “He supported his family through tailoring. His daughter works as a salesgirl; one can only imagine the struggles they were already facing. He was the breadwinner, a social worker who, through hard work, sustained his family. What will they do now?”
The family, he appealed, has been left to God’s mercy. “Shafi has left this world. Now it is incumbent upon the government to look after his family.”
Other residents expressed a collective sense of loss, stating that the most significant damage to the locality is the man who stitched their clothes and their lives together. “The biggest loss this locality has suffered,” one said, “is that Mohammad Shafi has left us.”
At least nine people were killed and over 30 injured late Friday night when a massive explosion ripped through Nowgam Police Station in Srinagar. The blast occurred while officials were handling a large cache of explosives recently seized in the Faridabad terror module case, the very arsenal that police had confiscated in a bid to prevent attacks, officials said on Saturday.
Among those killed were a State Investigation Agency official, three Forensic Science Laboratory officials, two crime wing officials, two revenue officials, and a tailor who was part of the team. The explosion also injured 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians.
The blast caused extensive damage to the police station, which was “very severely” affected, and impacted several adjoining structures.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat clarified that the massive explosion at the Nowgam police station in Srinagar was “accidental” and ruled out any sabotage. While Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered a probe into the incident and expressed deep grief over the tragedy.
