At least eight individuals have lost their lives and many more have been injured following a vehicle explosion near the iconic Red Fort in Delhi, according to local authorities.
Sanjay Tyagi, spokesperson for the Delhi City police, confirmed the fatalities to the BBC, stating that an additional 20 individuals sustained injuries.
Mr. Tyagi indicated that the police are examining the explosion’s origin and are “assessing all possibilities”.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha informed reporters that the incident occurred around 18:52 local time (13:52 GMT), as a slow-moving vehicle halted at a red light before detonating, causing damage to surrounding vehicles.
Mr. Tyagi relayed to the BBC that the blast transpired in a moving Hyundai i20 vehicle carrying three passengers at that moment.
Mumbai, India’s economic center, has been placed on heightened alert, as has the neighboring Uttar Pradesh state.
The explosion took place near a metro station adjacent to the Red Fort, which is one of Delhi’s most recognized landmarks.
The Mughal stronghold, attracting thousands of tourists daily, was constructed in the 17th century and is the site where Indian prime ministers deliver their Independence Day addresses each year.
RAJAT GUPTA/EPA/ShutterstockPrime Minister Narendra Modi of India has extended his sympathies to the families affected by the explosion.
Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader, remarked in a statement that the news is “tragically heartbreaking”.
According to federal home minister Amit Shah, teams from India’s National Security Guard and the National Investigation Agency are probing the explosion, alongside forensic specialists.
“We are considering all possibilities and will carry out a comprehensive investigation, accounting for every option. All avenues will be thoroughly examined without delay, and we will share the findings with the public,” he stated.
The minister, who visited the explosion site and a nearby hospital, noted that a meeting with senior officials would occur on Tuesday morning.
Security measures are being heightened at “sensitive religious sites, at-risk districts, and border areas” in Uttar Pradesh, as stated by senior police official Amitabh Yash following the incident in neighboring Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh houses renowned landmarks such as the Taj Mahal and is a heavily populated state.
REUTERS/StringerVeeru Sindhi, a local entrepreneur present during the blast, recounted scenes of destruction, witnessing multiple bodies and vehicles caught in flames.
“I am deeply shaken by what I witnessed,” he shared with the BBC. “We attempted to assist those trapped in their vehicles.”
An eyewitness characterized the aftermath of the explosion as chaotic and disorienting.
He was only a few hundred meters away from the explosion site when he heard a loud blast.
“It felt like time stood still for a moment before everyone started running in frenzied directions,” he relayed to the BBC.
Though he didn’t approach the scene, he observed burning car debris and locals attempting to assist the wounded.
A substantial security presence has been established at the explosion location, involving personnel from the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), the National Security Guard (NSG), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Armed officers have been noted advancing towards the area as investigations proceed.
Further reporting by Charlotte Scarr and Dilnawaz Pasha.
