Delhi Red Fort Explosion: Lal Qila Metro Station Closed Following Deadly Blast That Killed 9 and Injured 20

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has temporarily closed the Lal Qila Metro Station following a deadly explosion near Delhi's Red Fort on Monday evening that resulted in nine fatalities and injured at least 20 people. All other metro stations throughout the network continue to operate normally, according to DMRC's Tuesday announcement.

DMRC officially communicated through social media: "Service Update: Lal Qila Metro Station is closed due to security reasons. All other stations are functional as normal."

The closure follows a high-intensity explosion that occurred in a white Hyundai i20 vehicle near the Red Fort at approximately 6:52 pm, in one of the capital city's most crowded and heavily secured areas.

Eyewitnesses reported that the powerful blast ignited multiple vehicles at the congested Subhash Marg intersection. Delhi Fire Services confirmed receiving notification about the explosion near Lal Qila Metro Station Gate No. 1 around 7 pm.

Video footage from the incident site revealed severely damaged vehicles, scattered debris, and victims lying on the roadway as police and emergency response teams worked urgently to transport the injured to Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP).

Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the explosion originated in a slow-moving vehicle that had halted at the Red Fort traffic signal. Investigation teams from the Delhi Crime Branch, Special Branch, National Security Guard (NSG), and National Investigation Agency (NIA) are examining all possible motives. Shah verified that investigators are analyzing CCTV recordings from the surrounding area, while forensic experts are examining debris from the Haryana-registered vehicle.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed that authorities have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after preliminary evidence and intelligence information suggested potential terrorist connections.

In response to the explosion, several states including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and election-bound Bihar have been placed on high alert. Security measures have been intensified across major urban centers including Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has increased security at various Delhi-NCR installations, including the Red Fort, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi Metro network, and government buildings. The Chandni Chowk market, located adjacent to the explosion site and typically attracting nearly half a million daily visitors, will remain closed on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.

The explosion occurred coincidentally on the same day that police in Faridabad, Haryana, approximately 50 km from Delhi, discovered a substantial cache of 2,900 kg of explosives.