At least eight individuals lost their lives on Monday due to a car detonation close to the historic Red Fort in a densely populated section of New Delhi, as confirmed by a police representative. The cause of the explosion, a rare occurrence in the heavily guarded city with over 30 million residents, is currently under investigation, stated police spokesperson Sanjay Tyagi. Following the incident, India’s financial hub of Mumbai and the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, which shares a border with Delhi, heightened their security measures. Reports from TV channels indicated that around 20 people sustained injuries in the blast, prompting a swift response with ambulances rushing to the scene.
The aftermath of the explosion revealed mangled bodies and several damaged vehicles strewn across a congested street near a metro station in the old quarter of New Delhi. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha detailed that the blast occurred shortly before 7 p.m. local time, where a slow-moving vehicle at a traffic signal was the focal point of the explosion, leading to collateral damage on neighboring vehicles.
Federal and state investigative bodies dispatched teams to the location, with federal Home Minister Amit Shah being briefed on the situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his sympathies to the affected families and expressed hopes for the swift recovery of the injured, noting his coordination with Shah and other officials in overseeing the situation.
In a separate turn of events, Delhi’s deputy fire chief reported that at least six vehicles and three auto-rickshaws were set ablaze, subsequently extinguished by firefighting units. Eyewitnesses, like Suman Mishra, recounted chaotic scenes of panic following the explosion, with numerous ambulances and cordoned-off areas visible after the flames were contained.
The Red Fort, locally known as Lal Qila, serves as a significant historical landmark with its 17th-century Mughal architecture blending Persian and Indian styles, drawing tourists year-round. Notably, the fort is where the prime minister delivers the annual national address on India’s independence day, August 15th. While Delhi has faced past incidents of terrorism, including attacks during the 1980s and 1990s, along with a notable explosion outside the Delhi High Court in 2011, this recent car explosion near the Red Fort marks a tragic event in the city’s history.