New Delhi: At least 10 people were killed and 20 others injured after a powerful explosion rocked Delhi’s Red Fort area on Monday evening. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in his first reaction, said the blast took place in a Hyundai i20 vehicle. “The NIA and NSA are probing all possible angles related to the incident,” he said, adding that the explosion has triggered a high alert in the national capital and several other cities, including Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
The vehicle in which the explosion occurred bore a Haryana registration number. Officials said the registered owner has been identified and taken into custody for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to officials, the explosion, which sparked fires in several vehicles nearby, took place when the car slowed and came to a stop at a red traffic light near Gate 1 of the Red Fort metro station. The cause of the blast is not yet known. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said, “Today at around 6.52 pm, a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light. An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged.”
Forensic experts are examining the site, and the entire area around the Red Fort has been completely cordoned off. A high alert has been issued across Delhi, with increased security deployment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and said he was in touch with authorities to ensure all necessary measures were being taken. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Modi said, “I am deeply pained by the loss of lives in the explosion near Red Fort. My thoughts are with the bereaved families, and I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
He added that he was reviewing the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah and senior officials, and that “authorities are extending all possible assistance to those affected.”
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister wrote, “The situation is being closely monitored. Rescue operations are underway, and I have spoken to the Home Minister and officials. We are committed to ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.”
Residents and shopkeepers near the site described the blast as “terrifying.” “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.
“I have never heard such a loud explosion ever in my life. I fell three times due to the explosion. It felt as if we were all going to die,” recalled a local shopkeeper.
Following the explosion, Mumbai Police were placed on high alert, with all stations directed to intensify patrolling, conduct nakabandis and carry out random frisking of suspicious persons. A similar alert has been sounded in Noida, Kolkata and several other cities.
In Kolkata, police have been conducting naka checks and intensive security screenings across the city. Security personnel have been deployed at key locations, with checking in crowded areas, major markets and transport hubs. A heavy police presence has been reported as teams stop and search suspicious vehicles and individuals.
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