At least eight individuals have perished and several others sustained injuries following a car explosion in close proximity to Delhi’s historic Red Fort, authorities have confirmed.
Sanjay Tyagi, a spokesperson for the Delhi City Police, communicated to the BBC that the incident resulted in eight fatalities and approximately 20 injuries.
Law enforcement is currently investigating the cause of the blast, with Mr. Tyagi stating that they are “exploring all possibilities” to determine the sequence of events.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha informed reporters that the event occurred at approximately 18:52 local time (13:52 GMT), when a vehicle traveling at a low speed stopped at a traffic signal before detonating, inflicting damage upon adjacent vehicles.
Mr. Tyagi further disclosed to the BBC that the explosion originated within a Hyundai i20, which was occupied by three individuals at the time of the incident.
In response to the incident, Mumbai, India’s financial hub, and the state of Uttar Pradesh, bordering Delhi, have been placed under heightened alert.
The explosion transpired near a metro station located in the vicinity of the Red Fort, a prominent landmark in Delhi.
The Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal fortress and a major tourist attraction, serves as the venue for Indian prime ministers’ Independence Day addresses each year.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in the explosion.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi issued a statement expressing that the news was “extremely heartbreaking.”
Federal Home Minister Amit Shah announced that teams from the National Security Guard (NSG) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with forensic experts, are jointly investigating the explosion.
“We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all possibilities into account. All options will be investigated immediately and we will present the results to the public,” he affirmed.
The minister, who inspected the site of the explosion and visited a nearby hospital, disclosed that a meeting involving senior officials is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Security measures are being intensified at “sensitive religious sites, vulnerable districts and border areas” within Uttar Pradesh, as per a senior police official, Amitabh Yash, following the explosion in neighboring Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh, home to iconic sites such as the Taj Mahal, is a densely populated state.
Veeru Sindhi, a local businessman present at the site during the explosion, described the scene as one of devastation, with numerous bodies and vehicles engulfed in flames.
“I am fully shaken by what I have seen,” he told the BBC. “We tried to rescue people who were trapped inside the vehicles.”
One eyewitness characterized the aftermath of the blast as chaotic and perplexing.
He was situated just a few hundred meters from the location when he heard a powerful explosion.
“It felt like everything stopped for a few seconds before everyone started running in all directions,” he recounted to the BBC.
While he did not approach the site, he observed mangled car parts ablaze and locals endeavoring to assist the injured.
A significant security presence has been established at the blast site, comprising personnel from the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), the National Security Guard (NSG), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Armed officers have been observed advancing towards the area as investigations continue.
Additional reporting by Charlotte Scarr and Dilnawaz Pasha.
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