At least eight people were killed and several others injured after a powerful explosion tore through a vehicle near Gate Number 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station in Delhi on Monday evening, officials confirmed.
According to preliminary reports, the explosion occurred in a Maruti Eeco car, triggering a fire that engulfed three to four nearby vehicles. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said it received a call about the blast around 7:05 p.m., following which seven fire tenders, ambulances, and senior police officials rushed to the scene.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer A.K. Malik said, “We received information about a car blast near Chandni Chowk Metro Station. Seven units were immediately dispatched. The fire was brought under control at 7:29 p.m. There is a possibility of casualties, and all our teams are on-site.”
Visuals from the area showed charred vehicles, shattered windscreens, and debris scattered across the road. Car parts were seen strewn around, indicating the force of the explosion. Smoke billowed into the evening sky as emergency teams battled the blaze and evacuated the injured.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and horror. “When we saw someone’s hand lying on the road, we were absolutely shocked. I can’t explain it in words,” a local resident said. Another shopkeeper recounted, “I have never heard such a loud explosion in my life. I fell three times due to the blast, it felt as if we were all going to die.”
Medical authorities confirmed multiple casualties at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital. “Fifteen people have been brought to LNJP Hospital. Eight of them died before reaching the hospital. Three are critically injured, while one is in stable condition,” the hospital’s Medical Superintendent said.
The Delhi Police’s Special Cell and forensic teams have cordoned off the site and are examining the remains of the vehicles to determine the cause of the explosion. Police have yet to confirm whether the incident was accidental or deliberate.
The blast has prompted a heightened security alert in Delhi and neighbouring states. Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said that the state’s Director General of Police has ordered all senior officials to increase security at sensitive sites and border areas. “Police in all districts of Uttar Pradesh have been put on alert. Patrols and checks in vulnerable areas have been intensified,” Yash said.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a wider security threat. The explosion comes just hours after a terror module linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind was dismantled in a joint operation across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Further investigations are underway to establish the origin of the blast and whether there is any connection to the recently busted terror network.
