What are the Hidden Dangers of Ammonium Nitrate as 350 kg Seized in Faridabad | Delhi Red Fort Metro Blast - video Dailymotion

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On 9th November 2025, the Jammu &amp; Kashmir Police recovered 350 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, an odourless, white crystalline chemical used in fertilizers and explosives—from Faridabad near Delhi. The seizure followed the arrests of two doctors from Jammu and Kashmir with suspected terror links, raising serious security concerns in the National Capital Region. Ammonium nitrate, a common agricultural fertilizer, doubles as a powerful industrial explosive when mixed with fuel oils. While itself non-flammable, it can cause catastrophic explosions if mishandled or exposed to fire—a fact tragically demonstrated by the 2020 Beirut blast that killed over 200 people. &nbsp;This video explains what ammonium nitrate is, why it is so dangerous, its history in deadly industrial accidents worldwide, and why strict monitoring is crucial in India. Watch.

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00:00350 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, an odorless white crystalline chemical, was recovered from

00:20Faridabad near Delhi on the 9th of November 2025. The seizure followed the arrests of two

00:27doctors from Jammu and Kashmir in Haryana's Faridabad and Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur with

00:35suspected links to terror outfits. The seizure sparked concerns about security and public safety

00:41in India's national capital region. So why is this chemical so dangerous? Let's break it down.

00:48What is ammonium nitrate? At its core, ammonium nitrate is a simple salt. It's made by combining

01:02ammonia, a basic household and industrial chemical, with nitric acid, which is highly corrosive. The

01:09result? Ammonium nitrate, a white, water-soluble crystal. It's not something exotic. In fact,

01:16it's mostly known as a key ingredient in fertilizers. Farmers depend on it because it is a rich source of

01:23nitrogen, which helps crops grow faster and stronger and fuels a significant part of global food

01:29production. But besides agriculture, ammonium nitrate is widely used in explosives, especially

01:36for mining and construction. When mixed with fuel oils, it creates a powerful combination,

01:42one of the most commonly used industrial explosives worldwide. However, this dual-use nature is

01:49exactly what makes ammonium nitrate a substance of intense regulatory scrutiny.

02:01How dangerous is ammonium nitrate? While ammonium nitrate itself is not flammable,

02:07it is a potent oxidizer, meaning it supplies oxygen to other substances, supporting combustion.

02:14If exposed to high temperatures or shock, especially when contaminated with combustible materials like

02:21oil or organic matter, it can detonate catastrophically. The major risk comes when large quantities are

02:28stored improperly or come into contact with fire. That's why the seizure of 350 kilograms by the police

02:35is alarming. Even small mishandlings of such stockpiles can have disastrous outcomes. And it's not just

02:43theory. Over the years, accidental ammonium nitrate explosions have claimed thousands of lives,

02:50mostly due to lapses in storage and handling.

02:52How did it cause havoc in Lebanon? No discussion of ammonium nitrate is complete, without mentioning

03:06Beirut. On August 4th, 2020, a fire broke out at a warehouse in the port of Beirut that had stored

03:13nearly 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate for six years without adequate safety measures. The result was a

03:22massive explosion, one of the largest non-nuclear blasts in history, equivalent to about 1.1 kilotons

03:29of TNT. The blast killed at least 218 people, injured over 7,000 and left 300,000 homeless, causing an estimated

03:3915 billion US dollars in damage. Windows shattered for miles, and the shockwave was felt as far away as

03:47Cyprus, over 200 kilometers from the epicenter. Sadly, Lebanon is not an isolated case. Ammonium nitrate

03:55has a deadly legacy in industrial disasters around the world. In Tianjin, China, 2015, an explosion at a

04:04chemical warehouse killed 173 people and caused widespread urban destruction. In Texas City, USA, 1947, a cargo ship

04:15carrying about 2,000 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded, killing 581 people, the deadliest industrial accident in

04:24U.S. history. In Oppau, Germany, 1921, a fertilizer plant blast of 4,500 tons of ammonium nitrate killed around the

04:34500 people and injured thousands. In Toulouse, France, 2001, a warehouse exploded, claiming 31 lives and

04:44resulting in massive property and environmental damage. These accidents typically had one thing in

04:51common, ammonium nitrate stored in bulk, sometimes near combustible materials, and safety protocols that

04:58were either inadequate or ignored. The Jammu and Kashmir police's recent seizure highlights why ammonium

05:06nitrate is closely monitored in India. Given its history in both industrial accidents and its misuse in

05:12several terror attacks such as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, strict regulations are enforced on its

05:20storage, sale, and transport. Authorities treat every suspicious stockpile as a potential threat, not just for

05:28public safety, but for national security.

What are the Hidden Dangers of Ammonium Nitrate as 350 kg Seized in Faridabad | Delhi Red Fort Metro Blast

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