A tragic explosion occurred near the Lal Qila Metro Station, Gate No. 1, close to Delhi’s historic Red Fort, on Monday evening, sending shockwaves through the national capital. The Delhi Fire Services received an emergency call about the incident at approximately 7:00 p.m.
According to initial reports, a Hyundai i20 car suddenly exploded near the Subhash Marg traffic signal, just a short distance from the Red Fort. The impact of the blast was so severe that several nearby vehicles caught fire, resulting in extensive damage and chaos in the area.
Authorities have confirmed eight fatalities, while twelve others sustained injuries of varying severity. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment. The identities of the deceased are yet to be disclosed as officials work to inform their families.
Following the explosion, police and emergency response teams immediately cordoned off the area to prevent public movement and facilitate rescue operations. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after an intense effort.
In a late-night briefing, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the media, stating that the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. He emphasized that the government is “taking all possibilities into account” during the investigation and assured that the findings will be made public once confirmed.
Minister Shah further informed that teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Delhi Special Branch arrived at the scene within 10 minutes of receiving the alert. Additionally, specialized units including the National Security Guard (NSG), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and forensic experts have been deployed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Authorities are currently analyzing CCTV footage from the vicinity to trace the sequence of events and identify any suspicious activity prior to the explosion.
As investigations continue, security has been tightened across central Delhi, and nearby metro stations are under strict surveillance. The incident has raised concerns about public safety in one of the most secure and high-profile areas of the city.
