New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand were among the states placed on alert following a blast near Red Fort or Lal Quila Metro Station in Delhi on Monday evening. The explosion, which occurred in a parked car, killed at least eight people and injured several others. Authorities have also issued a precautionary alert across all railway stations.
Emergency services rushed to the site soon after the blast, which triggered a massive fire and panic in the area. Delhi was immediately placed under high alert as investigators worked to determine the cause of the explosion. Bihar, Kerala, Chandigarh, and Haryana have also been put on alert.
Uttar Pradesh ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said that the DGP has instructed all senior officers to tighten security at sensitive religious sites, border areas, and vulnerable districts. “All security agencies have been alerted, and police across the state have been ordered to increase patrols and checks in sensitive zones,” ANI quoted Yash as saying.
In Gujarat, police units have been directed to enhance vigilance and step up patrolling as a preventive measure. Rajasthan DGP Rajeev Sharma said that after a meeting on the Delhi blast, advisories were issued to all district SPs and DCPs to ensure high alert at crowded public places such as railway stations, bus stands, malls, and religious sites.
Uttarakhand ADG (Intelligence and Security) Abhinav Kumar confirmed that an alert has been issued statewide, with police chiefs in all 13 districts instructed to maintain strict vigilance.
According to the Delhi Fire Department, a call about the car explosion near Lal Quila Metro Station Gate No. 1 was received at around 7:05 pm. Located near Chandni Chowk, the Red Fort area is among Delhi’s busiest zones, especially during the festive and wedding season.
Fire tenders reached the scene quickly, and visuals from the site showed multiple vehicles ablaze and chaos on the streets. Hindustan Times quoted eyewitnesses saying that the impact was so strong that it was heard even at ITO, several kilometres away. The fire was brought under control by 7:29 pm.
“Six cars, two e-rickshaws, and one autorickshaw were gutted in the fire,” PTI quoted a fire department official as saying. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also reached the spot to probe the incident.
