Delhi Red Fort Explosion: Investigation Steps and Security Response After Deadly Blast

New Delhi:

The dust yet to settle on the blast near Delhi's Red Fort, the investigators are already focusing on the next steps -- determine the nature of the explosive and cast a wide net to zero in on the attackers. The massive explosion inside a Hyundai i-20 car near the Red Fort metro station claimed 9 lives and left 20 injured. A substantial area suffered the impact -- with mangled bodies and vehicles scattered throughout.

Sources indicated that beyond forensic examination of the explosives, authorities will analyze CCTV footage from the surrounding area, review call records from mobile towers, interview eyewitnesses, and examine all intelligence agency alerts.

This incident occurs months after Operation Sindoor -- India's response to the terror attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Though the government hasn't officially classified this as a terror attack, the comprehensive nature of the investigation suggests authorities are exercising maximum caution.

Not only Delhi but other metropolitan cities including Mumbai have been placed on high alert.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed a coordinated multi-agency investigation into the case. Participating agencies include the National Investigation Agency, National Security Guard, Forensic Science Laboratory, and the Delhi Police. Paramilitary forces have also been deployed.

All involved agencies have been instructed to "conduct a thorough probe into the cause and nature of the explosion and to submit a detailed report at the earliest," officials stated.

Police reported that the explosion occurred in a slow-moving vehicle near the Red Fort traffic signal at 6:52 pm. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha informed reporters that people were inside the i-20 car at the time.

Shah is visiting the Lok Narayan Jai Prakash hospital where the injured were transported. He is expected to visit the blast site, located nearby, later.

"Within 10 minutes of receiving information about the blast, 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 initiated a comprehensive investigation. Instructions have been given to examine all nearby CCTV cameras," Shah explained.

"We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, considering every scenario. All options will be investigated immediately, and we will present the findings to the public. I will be heading to the location shortly and will also visit the hospital immediately," he added.