Kashmir business community stands in solidarity with families hit by Nowgam tragedy

Srinagar, Nov 15: The Kashmir business community has expressed deep condolence over the accidental blast at Nowgam Police Station, which claimed nine lives and left over 30 injured, many of them policemen, forensic staff and civilians. Leaders of major trade and industry bodies called the tragedy devastating and urged comprehensive support for the families affected.

KCCI

President of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Javid Ahmad Tenga, expressed profound sorrow, saying the entire business community stands with the bereaved families in this moment of immense grief. He conveyed heartfelt condolences to all who lost their loved ones and prayed for the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

Tenga said the incident also caused considerable damage to residential properties in the surrounding areas, adding to the hardships of poorer households during the ongoing winter. He appealed to authorities to extend timely relief and assistance to every affected family. KCCI also prayed for the swift recovery of all injured and urged that the best medical care be ensured for them.

JKHARA

In a statement, Babar Chowdhary, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Association (JKHARA), said the blast had caused deep anguish across the business fraternity. He described it as a “shocking and painful tragedy that has snatched precious lives.”

Chowdhary expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for their strength. He called for urgent financial assistance for the victims’ households and the best possible treatment for the injured. “Families—especially children and elderly parents—must be supported without delay. Those who lost their lives while on duty deserve full institutional support,” he said.

Hoteliers Club

Mushtaq Chaya, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club (JKHC), said the tragedy had left Kashmir heartbroken. “We mourn the loss of police, forensic and civil personnel,” he said. Chaya called for a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and prevent such incidents in future.

He urged the administration to fully support the bereaved families and ensure the injured receive the best medical assistance. JKHC prayed for the speedy recovery of all those injured.

CCIK

The Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK) also expressed deep sorrow over the explosion, saying the tragedy had left several families shattered. Patron CCIK, Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya, conveyed condolences and said the incident had shaken Kashmir. He stressed the need for airlifting severely injured persons requiring specialised treatment outside J&K.

President CCIK, Tariq Rashid Ghani, said the business community stands united in grief and called for comprehensive relief and medical care for all affected.

KVFGU

The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union and the New Kashmir Fruit Association also expressed profound grief over the tragedy. Chairman Bashir Ahmad Basheer extended condolences on behalf of growers across the Valley and prayed for the injured. At a condolence meeting held in Parimpora, members observed two minutes of silence for the victims of the Nowgam blast as well as the recent Delhi blast, praying for strength for the bereaved families. The trade bodies collectively urged the administration to ensure swift relief, full medical support and fair compensation for all victims of the devastating incident.

PHDCCI Kashmir

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) Kashmir has expressed grief and deep anguish over the devastating Nowgam incident. The incident, which occurred during the handling of seized explosives, has sent shockwaves across the region. Chairman of PHDCCI, A P Vicky Shaw, along with the entire PHDCCI Kashmir team, articulated the collective sorrow of the business and wider community. “This tragedy has deeply shaken the entire Kashmir community to its core,” stated Shaw. The PHDCCI praised the bravery and dedication of the personnel who routinely handle high-risk materials for public safety, acknowledging the ultimate sacrifice made in the line of duty.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (J&K)

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) (Jammu & Kashmir) has expressed grief over loss of lives in the Nowgam tragic blast. Rahul Sahai, Chairman of ICC Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir), said that this heartbreaking loss of human lives has cast a deep shadow across the entire region. “The business fraternity stands united in grief. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and pray for strength for them to bear this irreparable loss. We also pray for the swift recovery of all those injured,” he stated.

In a statement, Sahai added that ICC stands firmly with the administration during this challenging time. He expressed confidence that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will ensure that appropriate compensation and necessary support are extended to the affected families.