At least 9 people were killed on Monday evening after a car exploded near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, in what officials now suspect was a terror-related incident.
A call about the blast was received around 6:55 pm, following which seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control in a short time
Preliminary reports suggest the vehicle involved was a Hyundai i20 carrying two to three occupants.
Officials said the impact appeared concentrated at the rear of the car, with no crater or flat spot found at the site, indicating a low-intensity explosion or internal malfunction.
The car was reportedly moving slowly at the time of the incident. Investigators noted that no pellet injuries were observed on the victims; however, several sustained burn wounds.
An eyewitness narrated his account of the incident, saying that he saw flames from his house after a loud explosion in the area.
“I saw the flames from my house and then came down to see what had happened. There was a loud explosion. I live nearby,” said local resident Rajdhar Pandey.
Another eyewitness said: “When we saw someone’s hand on the road, we were absolutely shocked. I can’t explain it in words.”
The explosion in the busy Red Fort area of Chandni Chowk was so intense that it shattered nearby streetlights and hurled cars up to 150 meters from the site.
According to official sources, security has been heightened across key installations and high-footfall areas, including markets and shopping malls, with the CISF and local police placed on alert.
Central agencies are assessing the incident and have described the gravity of the blast as significant.
As per sources, the car in which the blast took place belonged to a person named Nadeem Khan.
Preliminary investigations have not yielded conclusive findings so far, with no splinters recovered from the scene.
Officials said the cause of the extensive damage remains unclear, though a few items collected from the site are being examined for forensic analysis.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken stock of the situation. According to official sources, the Prime Minister spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought a detailed update on the incident and the ongoing investigation.
PM Modi also expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the blast. “Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the blast in Delhi earlier this evening. May the injured recover at the earliest. Those affected are being assisted by authorities. Reviewed the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah Ji and other officials,” he said in an x post.