Eight people were killed and at least 24 others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a car near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort on Sunday evening. The blast, which occurred around 7 pm near Chandni Chowk Metro Station, sent shockwaves through the congested Old Delhi area, leaving behind mangled vehicles, debris, and chaos.
According to officials, the explosion was of “high intensity.” Visuals from the scene showed a car completely destroyed, its doors blown off, with several nearby vehicles damaged by the impact. Eyewitnesses described seeing a “huge fireball” and hearing a deafening sound that shattered nearby windows.
Zeeshan, an auto driver injured in the blast, recounted, “The car in front of me was about two feet away. Suddenly, it exploded. I don’t know what was inside, but it was a Swift Dzire car.”
Another witness said, “I was on my terrace when I saw flames rising high. The blast shook our building.”
The Delhi Fire Department received a call about an explosion near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station. “We got the information at 7 pm and immediately dispatched seven units. By 7:29 pm, the fire was brought under control,” said Deputy Chief Fire Officer A.K. Malik.
Around 20 fire engines and multiple police teams rushed to the scene. The area has since been sealed off for investigation. The cause and nature of the explosion are yet to be confirmed.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guard (NSG) have been called in to assist the Delhi Police. Senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) are also monitoring the situation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also spoke with the Delhi Police Commissioner and heads of NIA and IB. Following the explosion, states including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have been placed on high alert.
The blast comes just a day before the second phase of polling in Bihar and hours after security forces in Faridabad, Haryana—around 50 km from Delhi—recovered 2,900 kg of explosives.
The Red Fort, one of Delhi’s most visited historical monuments, was packed with evening tourists when the explosion occurred, raising concerns over security lapses in one of the capital’s most sensitive zones.
Authorities are investigating whether there is any link between the Faridabad explosives seizure and the Red Fort blast.
