New Delhi: A powerful explosion tore through a Hyundai i20 car near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort this evening, killing 13 people and injuring 24 others.
The blast, which occurred around 6:52 pm close to the Red Fort Metro Station, left the area strewn with mangled vehicles and human remains.
“The explosion happened in a slow-moving car near the Red Fort signal and damaged several vehicles nearby,” said Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha. A total of 22 cars were wrecked in the incident.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guard (NSG) have taken charge of the probe, while cities including Mumbai, Jaipur, and those in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been placed on high alert.
According to Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik, “Seven fire units rushed to the spot immediately, and the blaze was brought under control by 7:29 pm.”
Disturbing visuals from the scene showed charred vehicles, body parts, and a van with its doors blown off. Security forces quickly cordoned off the area, which typically sees heavy tourist footfall.
The blast came just a day before the second phase of polling in Bihar and hours after police in Haryana’s Faridabad, around 50 km from Delhi, seized 2,900 kg of explosives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed by Home Minister Amit Shah, who is receiving regular updates from the Delhi Police Commissioner and the chiefs of the NIA and Intelligence Bureau.
The 17th-century Red Fort, one of Delhi’s most visited landmarks, stands in the densely populated old quarters of the capital and remains a symbol of India’s heritage and history.
