Chaos erupted at a crowded intersection near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday night when a car suddenly detonated, killing eight people and injuring 19. The incident occurred just before 7 pm as the vehicle was stopped at a red light outside the Red Fort metro station, a typically busy area.
The explosion was described by witnesses as “very strong” and triggered a massive fire. The blaze spread rapidly, destroying more than a dozen vehicles, including other cars, auto-rickshaws, and motorcycles. The scene was one of utter pandemonium, with news footage capturing people screaming in panic and the wreckage of a car with its doors completely blown off by the blast’s force.
Eyewitnesses provided graphic and harrowing accounts of the carnage. One witness reported seeing a “hand on the road” and a body “torn into pieces.” Another, Om Prakash Gupta, described the horrific sight of “body parts all over” the street. Dozens of fire engines and ambulances were dispatched to the scene to manage the inferno and tend to the victims. The 19 injured were subsequently transported to a government hospital.
The investigation has been taken over by the federal Home Ministry. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the blast site, confirming that the cause of the detonation has not yet been determined. He emphasized that a forensic analysis of samples is crucial and that “all angles” are being investigated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of the deceased. In the wake of the attack, a high alert has been activated for Mumbai, the state of Uttar Pradesh, and major train stations across India as a precautionary security measure. The owner of the exploded vehicle has reportedly been detained for questioning.