Powerful Car Explosion Rocks Delhi's Historic Red Fort Area
A devastating blast inside a moving vehicle near the iconic Red Fort in Delhi on Monday evening claimed at least nine lives and left numerous others injured, sending shockwaves through the capital. The explosion occurred at 6:52 PM near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, a densely populated area, triggering a massive emergency response.
Blast Details and Immediate Aftermath
According to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, the explosion took place when a slow-moving Hyundai i20 stopped at a traffic signal on Subhash Marg. The blast was of such intensity that it set fire to multiple vehicles in the vicinity. Six cars, four motorcycles, and three e-rickshaws were engulfed in flames, creating a scene of chaos and destruction.
The force of the explosion was immense. A police post located nearly 100 metres away was damaged, and parts of the shattered vehicle were found as far as 200 metres from the epicenter. Local residents reported feeling tremors and building shakes up to 900 metres away, with many describing the experience as similar to an earthquake.
High-Level Investigation Launched
Union Home Minister Amit Shah promptly visited the blast site and addressed the media, stating that investigating agencies are probing all angles and not ruling out any possibility. When questioned on whether it was a terror attack, Shah responded that it was too early to conclude until forensic analysis of the site samples is completed by the NSG and FSL teams.
Shah confirmed that he has reviewed the situation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will be conducting a high-level meeting with top officials on Tuesday. Multiple agencies including the Delhi Police, NIA, NSG, and FSL have been deployed at the site for a thorough investigation.
Vehicle Trail and Impact on the Area
Preliminary investigations revealed crucial details about the suspect vehicle. The Hyundai i20 was originally registered to a resident of Gurgaon, who claimed during questioning that he had sold it to another party. Police sources indicate the vehicle changed hands multiple times, with the last registered owner being identified as a resident of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir.
Authorities also discovered that the car had been parked near the Red Fort area for over three hours before it was driven out moments before the explosion. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) immediately restricted entry and exit at Gate Nos. 1 and 4 of the Lal Qila Metro Station as a security measure, though metro services continued to operate normally across the network.
The injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals with severe burn injuries and mangled limbs. The Delhi Fire Service received the emergency call at 6:55 PM and deployed seven fire tenders, successfully dousing the flames by 7:36 PM. A high alert has been sounded across Delhi and several other major cities in response to the incident.
