New Delhi: A powerful explosion near the Red Fort metro station on Monday evening killed at least 10 people and left 24 others injured, sending shockwaves through one of Delhi’s busiest areas.
Several vehicles were gutted as flames shot up following the blast, which occurred around 6.45 pm when the area was crowded with commuters and tourists.
According to officials, the explosion originated from a car parked near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort metro station.
The impact was so severe that it shattered nearby car windows and was heard several kilometres away, including at ITO.
Delhi Fire Services said ten fire tenders were rushed to the scene, and the blaze was brought under control by 7.29 pm.
“Six cars, two e-rickshaws and one autorickshaw were completely gutted,” an official confirmed.
Videos shared on social media captured the intensity of the explosion — charred vehicles, thick smoke, and bodies lying on the road.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as people fled the area, fearing more explosions.
One injured eyewitness, his forehead bandaged, said the blast appeared to have come from a Swift car.
“There was a Swift in front of my auto. Suddenly, there was a massive explosion — everything went up in flames,” he recounted.
Another witness said the sound was so loud that it shook nearby buildings.
“I was inside the gurdwara when the ground shook. Moments later, we saw fire and people running for their lives,” he said.
A high alert was sounded across the national capital, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has joined local police and forensic teams at the scene.
Officials said samples from the site have been collected for chemical analysis to determine the nature of the explosives.
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The explosion came just hours after a major anti-terror operation in neighbouring Faridabad, where police seized around 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate, weapons, and detonators from the rented home of a Kashmiri doctor.
Eight people, including three doctors, were arrested in the multi-state operation that uncovered a “white-collar” terror module allegedly linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
Among those detained were Dr. Muzammil Ganaie from Faridabad and Dr. Shaheen, a woman doctor from Lucknow, from whose car police recovered an AK-47 rifle.
Investigators are now probing whether there is any link between the Faridabad seizure and Monday’s explosion near the Red Fort — an area under heavy security surveillance given its proximity to key national monuments and government installations.
