At least eight people were killed and over a dozen injured after a car explosion took place outside Gate No. 1 of the Lal Quila (Red Fort) Metro Station on Monday evening. The blast occurred around 6:52 PM, triggering panic in one of Delhi’s busiest areas near Chandni Chowk.
According to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, the explosion happened when a vehicle slowed at a red light. The area has been sealed, and teams from the Delhi Police Special Cell, NIA, NSG, and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) are conducting investigations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that all possibilities are being examined and assured that findings will be shared publicly. He is scheduled to visit both the blast site and the hospital where victims are being treated.
Following the incident, Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana have been placed on high alert. Security has been tightened across borders, religious places, and crowded markets.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with cars engulfed in flames and people running in panic. Shops in Chandni Chowk were immediately shut as a precaution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed on the situation by Amit Shah and senior officials. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) confirmed that services remain operational, though entry and exit gates at Lal Quila Station have been restricted.
Authorities are yet to determine the cause and nature of the blast. Forensic teams are collecting samples from the wreckage to ascertain whether it was an accidental fire or a planned act of terror.
