At least eight individuals lost their lives on Monday in a car explosion close to the iconic Red Fort in a heavily populated section of New Delhi, as confirmed by a police spokesperson. The cause of the explosion, a rare occurrence in the heavily guarded city with a population exceeding 30 million, is currently under investigation, according to police representative Sanjay Tyagi. Following the incident, Mumbai, India’s financial hub, and Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state bordering Delhi, heightened security measures, reported local media outlets.
Reports from TV channels indicated that approximately 20 individuals sustained injuries in the blast, prompting swift ambulance responses to the scene. The aftermath of the explosion revealed mangled bodies and multiple damaged vehicles on a congested street near an old quarter New Delhi metro station. Law enforcement swiftly mobilized to secure the area and disperse onlookers.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha disclosed that the explosion occurred minutes before 7 p.m. local time, involving a slow-moving vehicle halted at a red light. Golcha informed reporters that the vehicle experienced an explosion, resulting in damages to nearby vehicles. Federal and state investigative agencies are actively present at the site, with federal Home Minister Amit Shah being briefed on the situation, Golcha added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Modi emphasized that authorities were providing assistance to those affected, following a thorough review of the incident with Shah and other officials.
In a separate incident, Delhi’s deputy fire chief reported that at least six vehicles and three auto-rickshaws caught fire, which were promptly extinguished by firefighting teams. Witness accounts described chaotic scenes following the blast, with people fleeing in panic. Emergency services swiftly responded to the site, with a significant number of ambulances present, and the area cordoned off after the flames were extinguished.
The Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, is a historic 17th-century Mughal-era structure blending Persian and Indian architectural influences, attracting tourists year-round. The fort serves as the venue for the prime minister’s annual address to the nation on India’s Independence Day, celebrated on August 15th. Delhi has faced past incidents of explosions, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s, attributed to Islamist militants or separatists from the state of Punjab. The last major explosion in the city occurred in 2011 outside the Delhi High Court, resulting in approximately a dozen casualties.