At least eight individuals lost their lives in a car explosion that occurred near the iconic Red Fort in a densely populated section of New Delhi, the capital of India, as confirmed by a police representative. The cause of the explosion, a rare occurrence in the heavily secured city with a population exceeding 30 million, is currently under investigation, stated Sanjay Tyagi, a police spokesperson. Following the incident, India’s financial hub, Mumbai, and its most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, which shares a border with Delhi, heightened security measures as reported by local media outlets.
Reports from television channels indicated that approximately 20 people sustained injuries during the explosion, with ambulances swiftly responding to the scene. The aftermath revealed mangled bodies and the wreckage of several vehicles on a congested street near a metro station in the historic area of New Delhi, prompting a swift deployment of police forces to secure the vicinity and disperse onlookers.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha disclosed that the explosion occurred shortly before 7 p.m. local time. He described the incident as a slow-moving vehicle stopping at a red light, followed by an explosion within the vehicle that led to damage to nearby vehicles. Federal and state investigative bodies are present at the scene, with federal Home Minister Amit Shah receiving a briefing on the situation, as detailed by Golcha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences to those affected by the tragedy, expressing hopes for the swift recovery of the injured and affirming that authorities are providing necessary assistance. Modi also shared that he had evaluated the situation with Shah and other officials.
In a separate development, Delhi’s deputy fire chief reported that six vehicles and three auto-rickshaws caught fire, with firefighting teams successfully extinguishing the flames. Eyewitness accounts described chaotic scenes following the explosion, with people fleeing in panic. The area surrounding the blast site was cordoned off after the fire was contained, with the presence of numerous ambulances and remnants of damaged vehicles observed.
The Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, a notable 17th-century Mughal architectural marvel blending Persian and Indian styles, attracts tourists year-round. The fort serves as the backdrop for the prime minister’s annual address to the nation on India’s Independence Day, celebrated on August 15th. Delhi has a history of being targeted by explosions dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, mainly in crowded public spaces, with past incidents attributed to Islamist militants or separatists from Punjab. The last major explosion in the city occurred in 2011 outside the Delhi High Court, resulting in a dozen fatalities.