13 Killed In Blast Near Red Fort, Car With People Exploded At Traffic Signal
Thirteen people were killed and 24 others were injured after a high-intensity explosion tore through a passenger car near Delhi’s historic Red Fort on Tuesday evening. The blast struck at 6:52 PM inside a Hyundai i20 close to the Red Fort Metro Station, a crowded zone that draws thousands of visitors every day. The explosion was so strong that it left mangled bodies, shattered metal and wrecked cars scattered across the road. Delhi Police officials described it as a very powerful blast.
According to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, the explosion occurred in a slow-moving vehicle that had stopped at the Red Fort traffic signal. Occupants were inside the car at the time. The impact was severe enough to damage nine nearby vehicles. Investigators confirmed that the Hyundai i20 was registered in Haryana under the name of a man identified as Nadeem.
The National Investigation Agency and the National Security Guard have taken charge of the probe. Their involvement signals the seriousness of the incident and the need to examine every possible angle. Several states have been placed on high alert. Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Haryana, Punjab, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have stepped up security. Bihar, which heads into the final phase of polling tomorrow, has also increased vigilance. Kerala authorities have instructed police forces to strengthen security across the state.
Visuals from the scene were deeply distressing, showing bodies on the ground, severed limbs and vehicles burnt and twisted by the force of the blast. Emergency responders acted quickly. Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik said seven fire units were deployed immediately and the blaze was brought under control at 7:29 PM.
The entire Red Fort area, which usually buzzes with tourists, was soon filled with police, security forces and forensic teams. Ambulances rushed the injured to Lok Nayak Hospital. Outside the hospital, worried relatives gathered in large numbers after hearing that their family members had been brought in for treatment.
This incident came on the same day authorities discovered a massive haul of 2,900 kilograms of explosives in Faridabad, located only 50 kilometres from the national capital. The discovery has added to the urgency and scale of the security response.
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The Red Fort, built in the seventeenth century, sits in the dense old quarters of Delhi and attracts a huge daily footfall. The surrounding area includes Chandni Chowk Market, one of the largest and busiest markets in the city that sees between four and six lakh visitors every day.
After the explosion, Union Home Minister Amit Shah briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Senior officials from the Delhi Police, NIA and Intelligence Bureau continued to update the Home Minister on the evolving situation. Shah stated that the incident will be investigated in depth.
He said that within ten minutes of receiving information about the blast, teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Special Branch reached the spot. NSG and NIA teams, along with forensic experts, have begun a complete investigation. Shah added that all nearby CCTV cameras will be examined. He emphasised that every possibility will be explored and findings will be shared with the public. Shah later visited the blast site and met the injured at LNJP Hospital.
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Eyewitness accounts provided a sense of the chaos. Zeeshan, an auto driver who suffered injuries, said the vehicle in front of him suddenly exploded. Another witness described seeing a huge fireball from a terrace and said the blast was strong enough to shake windows in surrounding buildings. A third witness said the sound was so loud that people inside a nearby gurdwara could not understand what had happened at first.
The investigation remains active, with authorities searching for answers and working to ensure public safety in one of the most crowded areas of the national capital.
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