Uttarakhand: 161 explosive gelatin sticks found near school in Almora

A major security scare in Almora, Uttarakhand, has put police on alert after a large stash of explosive gelatin sticks was found just a few feet from a village school.

The explosives were discovered near the Government Higher Secondary School in Dabara village, Sult area, and authorities are now investigating where they came from and what they were meant for.

The school principal first raised the alarm after spotting suspicious packets in dense bushes near the building during an inspection. He immediately alerted authorities, prompting a quick response from local police.

Police cordoned off the area as soon as they arrived, given the large quantity and dangerous nature of the explosives. Bomb disposal teams and dog squads were called in from Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital to inspect the site.

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Officers recovered 161 gelatin sticks, weighing over 20 kilogrammes, hidden in several packets scattered in the bushes.

SSP Devendra Pincha told reporters, “A total of 161 gelatin sticks were found near a school in Dabra village. Police and the bomb disposal squad examined the area, and nearby locations were also searched.”

Gelatin sticks are powerful explosives normally used in mining and construction. Their illegal storage so close to a school—a highly sensitive zone—has raised major concerns. “We are investigating why these explosives were brought to the village,” Pincha added.

Police have registered a case against unknown persons under the Explosive Substances Act and relevant sections of the BNS. Four teams have been formed to trace the source of the explosives and determine their intended use.

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The discovery comes amid heightened security nationwide after recent blast incidents and large seizures of explosive materials in other states. Authorities are now working to find out whether this cache is part of a wider criminal or terror-linked plot.