An urgent investigation is underway after a powerful car explosion killed eight people and wounded 19 near Delhi’s Red Fort. The blast, which occurred at a busy intersection on Monday night, has become a top priority for India’s security and political leadership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed he is reviewing the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah, who has already visited the blast site.
The cause of the explosion is the central question for investigators. Home Minister Shah stressed that no conclusions can bedrawn until forensic analysis of samples from the scene is complete. “We will investigate all angles with determination,” Shah told reporters, confirming that no possibilities are being ruled out. As a preliminary step, the registered owner of the car that exploded has reportedly been detained for questioning.
The incident unfolded just before 7 pm local time. According to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, a car that had stopped at a red light outside the Red Fort metro station was the source of the blast. The explosion triggered a massive fire, which quickly spread to other vehicles, ultimately destroying more than a dozen cars, motorcycles, and rickshaws, and blackening the surrounding area.
The human cost was devastating. Witnesses described a chaotic and gruesome scene with mangled bodies, scattered body parts, and people screaming in panic. One resident, Om Prakash Gupta, recounted seeing “body parts all over” and a body on the windscreen of a car. Dozens of fire engines and ambulances were dispatched to the scene to manage the inferno and transport the injured to a nearby government hospital.
The location of the blast, in the heavily congested Old Delhi area near the iconic Red Fort, has added to the concern. This area is a major tourist draw and is usually packed with people. In response, authorities have put major cities like Mumbai and the state of Uttar Pradesh, which borders Delhi, on high alert.