Eight lives were lost and 19 people were injured in a devastating car explosion at a red light near Delhi’s historic Red Fort. The incident on Monday night shattered the evening calm in the bustling Old Delhi district. A car, which had stopped at a traffic signal just outside the Red Fort metro station, suddenly detonated, accordingEto police.
The explosion triggered a large fire that quickly spread to adjacent vehicles in the congested traffic. More than a dozen cars, rickshaws, and motorcycles were engulfed in flames, leaving a scene of charred wreckage. Dozens of fire engines and ambulances were immediately dispatched to the location to battle the blaze and provide emergency medical care.
The 19 injured victims were rushed to a nearby government hospital. Witnesses who were present during the explosion described a scene of absolute horror and chaos. One local resident, Om Prakash Gupta, reported hearing a loud blast and rushing outside to see “several vehicles on fire” and “body parts all over,” a testament to the brutal force of the explosion.
India’s top officials are personally overseeing the response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media that he is reviewing the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah and offered his condolences to the families who lost loved ones. Shah, who visited the blast site, stated that the cause is not yet known and that a thorough investigation covering “all angles” is underway.
As a part of the immediate response, authorities have placed several key areas on high alert, including the financial capital of Mumbai, the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh, and large train stations. The registered owner of the car involved in the incident has reportedly been detained for questioning.