At least nine people were killed and 24 injured after a high-intensity explosion ripped through a car with passengers on Monday evening near Delhi's historic Red Fort, one of India's most high-profile spots.
The blast took place in a Hyundai I20 car at 6.52 near the Red Fort Metro Station, leaving mangled bodies and wrecked cars scattered in the busy area.
"It was a very powerful explosion," said sources in the Delhi Police.
"The blast took place in a slow-moving vehicle that came to a halt at the Red Fort traffic signal. There were occupants in the car. The blast damaged cars nearby," Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha told reporters.
The explosion damaged 22 cars.
Disturbing visuals showed bodies on the ground, severed body parts, and mangled cars.
"We responded immediately, and seven units were sent to the spot. At 7:29 PM, the fire was brought under control," said Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik.
Moments after the blast, an unprecedented number of police and security personnel filled the area, which sees heavy tourist traffic all year.
As per eyewitnesses, the blast occurred in a small car.
Zeeshan, an auto driver who got injured due to the blast, said, "The car in front of me was about two feet away. I don't know whether there was a bomb in it or something else, but it exploded."
"I saw a huge fireball from the terrace of my house. There was a huge sound. The blast shook the windows of the buildings," said a witness.
“I was at the gurdwara when I heard a strong sound. We couldn't make out what it was; it was that loud,” said another.
Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital stated that 24 people were brought in severe condition, of which nine were declared dead.
The remaining 14 people are undergoing treatment.
CCTV footage from the metro station and surrounding areas is being thoroughly scanned as part of the ongoing investigation.
The exact cause of the explosion, which triggered panic in the area, is yet to be determined.
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.
Officials said the cause of the extensive damage remains unclear, though a few items collected from the site are being examined for forensic analysis.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the National Security Guard have joined the investigations.
The authorities have sounded high alert in Mumbai, Jaipur, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand Bihar. Authorities in Kerala have also directed the police to strengthen security across the state.
The blast took place on a day a massive haul of 2,900 kg of explosives was found just 50 km from the capital, in neighbouring Faridabad in Haryana. It also came a day before the second round of polling in Bihar.
