Deadly Explosion Near Delhi's Red Fort Kills Eight and Injures Twenty: Investigation Underway

New Delhi:

Eight individuals lost their lives and twenty were injured following a powerful explosion that tore through a passenger car this evening near Delhi's iconic Red Fort, one of India's most prominent historical landmarks. The explosion occurred in a white Hyundai i20 at 6:52 PM close to the Red Fort Metro Station, leaving mangled bodies and damaged vehicles scattered throughout the busy area. "We are investigating all possible angles," stated Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a briefing, before heading to the explosion site.

"The explosion happened in a slow-moving vehicle that had stopped at the Red Fort traffic signal. There were people inside the car. The blast caused damage to nearby vehicles," Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha informed reporters.

The Hyundai i20 carried a Haryana registration number.

India's leading counter-terrorism agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the National Security Guard have joined the investigation efforts.

Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Haryana, Punjab, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are under high alert, as is Bihar, which is scheduled to conduct its second and final round of polling tomorrow. Authorities in Kerala have also instructed police to enhance security measures throughout the state. All major railway stations across the country have been placed on high alert as well.

Disturbing images showed bodies on the ground, severed body parts, and wrecked vehicles.

"We responded immediately, deploying seven units to the location. By 7:29 PM, the fire was brought under control," reported Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik.

Shortly after the explosion, an unprecedented number of police and security personnel flooded the area, which typically experiences heavy tourist traffic throughout the year.

Ambulances rushed to nearby Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) carrying numerous injured individuals. Outside the hospital, concerned relatives gathered after learning their loved ones had been brought there.

The explosion occurred on the same day that a massive cache of 2,900 kg of explosives was discovered just 50 km from the capital, in neighboring Faridabad, Haryana.

The 17th-century Mughal-built Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, is situated in Delhi's congested old quarter and represents a popular tourist destination. The area also encompasses the Chandni Chowk Market, one of Delhi's busiest and oldest markets, which attracts between 400,000 to 600,000 daily visitors.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, while assuring that all possible assistance is being provided to those affected, urged people to "avoid rumors and maintain peace".

"Please rely exclusively on official information released by police and administration," she emphasized.

Home Minister Briefs PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the explosion. The Delhi Police Commissioner and leaders of the NIA and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are regularly updating the Home Minister about the situation, according to government sources.

Amit Shah has promised a thorough investigation into the explosion.

"Within 10 minutes of receiving information about the explosion, teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Delhi Special Branch arrived at the scene. The NSG and NIA teams, along with the FSL, have now begun a comprehensive investigation. Orders have been given to examine all nearby CCTV cameras," Shah stated.

"We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, considering every scenario. All options will be promptly investigated, and we will share the results with the public. I will shortly visit the site and also the hospital immediately," he added.

He subsequently visited both the explosion site and the LNJP hospital to meet with the injured.

"Huge Fireball"

Zeeshan, an auto driver injured in the explosion, recounted, "The car in front of me was approximately two feet away. I don't know whether it contained a bomb or something else, but it exploded."

"From my house terrace, I witnessed a huge fireball. There was an enormous sound. The explosion shook the windows of surrounding buildings," described one witness.

"I was at the gurdwara when I heard a powerful sound. We couldn't identify what it was; it was incredibly loud," said another.