India (Commonwealth Union)_ In early evening, a powerful explosion tore through a crowded street near Delhi’s iconic 17th-century monument, the Red Fort. The blast, executed with a slow-moving white Hyundai i20, spread devastation across the busy old city area and left the capital in shock. Initial official estimates indicated at least eight people killed and around twenty injured when the vehicle exploded near a traffic signal just outside the Red Fort Metro Station. Witnesses reported that shockwaves from the explosion rattled windows of nearby buildings and ignited multiple vehicles in the dense, narrow lanes of the old city. Emergency crews from the fire department, police special units, and disaster response teams rushed to the scene, transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals and beginning immediate forensic sweeps of the area.
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Devastating scene of the blast
Eyewitnesses on the ground described scenes of chaos: parked cars and auto-rickshaws ablaze, bystanders screaming for help, and smoke rising through one of Delhi’s most densely populated shopping and tourist corridors. One shopkeeper said his building “shook like an earthquake,” adding that people ran screaming from the blast zone. Authorities confirmed that the blast damaged several nearby vehicles and left pieces of debris and shrapnel across the roadway.
Vehicle and ownership under scrutiny
The vehicle at the center of the blast has been identified as a Hyundai i20 (registration HR 26 CE 7674). The car’s owner has been detained for questioning as investigators trace the purchase history and movements of the vehicle in the hours before the explosion. Early reports suggest the car changed hands multiple times in recent months and may have been used for the blast, which is now under close investigation by anti-terror agencies.
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Terror links investigated
While the official cause of the explosion is still under investigation, authorities have registered a case under the country’s anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, as well as the Explosives Act. A senior police official cautioned that “we are exploring all possibilities,” noting that the nature of the blast, including the damage radius and choice of location, raised red flags consistent with a terror attack scenario. At the same time, forensic teams pointed out that no classic pellet or splinter injuries typical of a bomb blast have been found, and there was no visible crater, leaving the exact nature of the explosion uncertain.
Heightened security across the region
As the investigation unfolds, Delhi has been placed on high alert, with special scrutiny at airports, railway stations, bus terminals, and public transport hubs. Major cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh, have also raised alert levels. Police checkpoints were set up around key locations, and patrols intensified in what officials described as a proactive security sweep. The blast zone has been sealed off, and traffic diversions remain in place around the Red Fort and nearby Chandni Chowk market area.
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Government reaction and condolences from world leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow at the “horrific incident,” offering condolences to the victims’ families and vowing that “the conspirators behind this will not be spared.” He said the investigation agencies are working “round the clock” to get to the bottom of the incident. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the scene and the hospital where the injured are being treated, meeting senior intelligence and police officials to coordinate the response. Additionally, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, BJP president and Union Health Minister J P Nadda, and several other leaders expressed shock over the blast. Furthermore, several world leaders and foreign envoys from the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Israel, the USA, the UK, and other countries also expressed their condolences over the tragic incident.
Immediate impacts
The blast struck a major commercial zone near Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s oldest and busiest markets; many shops were forced to close temporarily in the wake of the explosion. Local merchants described a scene of panic as people fled the area and emergency services took over the roads. The metro station near the Red Fort was temporarily shut at select gates, and associated roads were heavily impacted by the diversion of traffic and the presence of emergency response teams.
What investigations revealed so far?
- The site is being examined by federal agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and commandos from the National Security Guard (NSG) have been deployed.
- Investigators are analyzing CCTV footage from the immediate area to trace the vehicle’s route and occupants and to determine whether the car was simply parked or actively driven into the zone.
- The investigation is also considering whether this incident is linked to a recent major seizure of 2,900 kg of explosive-making material conducted earlier in the neighboring state of Haryana.
- Early forensic indicators remain inconclusive. While the damage is extensive, the absence of a crater or classic bomb-blast injury patterns means investigators are keeping open the possibility of alternate causes.
Significance of the Red Fort
The Red Fort is both a historical monument and a central symbol of national events; it is densely populated and highly visited by tourists, which makes the incident all the more alarming from a security standpoint. The explosion in such a crowded and symbolic spot raises serious questions about the vulnerability of high-density urban zones in the capital city.
Public safety advice
Following the terrific incident, officials have urged citizens to remain calm, avoid speculation, and not spread unverified information. Commuters are being asked to monitor traffic advisories and avoid the immediate area of the blast while investigations continue. The market association has requested that shoppers stay away from the blast zone until further notice. For now, a heavy security presence remains in place around the affected zone as the city’s authorities work to restore a sense of normalcy. This tragic incident will almost certainly become the subject of a major criminal-terror investigation, with implications for urban security, intelligence gathering, and public safety protocols in crowded metropolitan spaces. The coming hours and days will be crucial in uncovering how this happened, whether it was deliberate and planned, and what steps will be taken next to protect the capital and its citizens.
