New Delhi: Eight people were killed and 20 injured after a high-intensity explosion ripped through a car with passengers this evening near Delhi’s historic Red Fort, one of India’s most high-profile spots. The blast took place in a white Hyundai i20 car at 6.52 near the Red Fort Metro Station, leaving mangled bodies and wrecked cars scattered in the busy area. “We are probing all angles,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a briefing, right before visiting the blast site.
“The blast took place in a slow-moving vehicle that stopped at the Red Fort traffic signal. There were occupants in the car. The blast damaged cars nearby,” Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha told reporters. The Hyundai i20 car had a Haryana registration number.
India’s premier terror probe agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the National Security Guard have joined the investigations.
Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Haryana, Punjab, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are on high alert, and so is Bihar, which is set to vote in the second and final round of polling tomorrow. Authorities in Kerala have also directed the police to strengthen security across the state. All major railway stations across the country are also on high alert.
The CISF has put all the Delhi-NCR installations, including Delhi Metro, Red Fort, Government Buildings and IGI Airport, under its security cover on high alert.
Disturbing visuals showed bodies on the ground, severed body parts, and mangled cars. “We responded immediately, and seven units were sent to the spot. At 7:29 PM, the fire was brought under control,” said Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik.
Moments after the blast, an unprecedented number of police and security personnel filled the area, which sees heavy tourist traffic all year.
Ambulances streamed into a nearby public hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP), carrying several injured people. Outside, anxious relatives gathered after hearing that their loved ones had been brought in.
The blast took place on a day a massive haul of 2,900 kg of explosives was found just 50 km from the capital, in neighbouring Faridabad in Haryana.
The 17th-century Mughal-built Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, is located in the congested old quarters of Delhi and is a popular tourist destination. The area is also home to the Chandni Chowk Market, one of the busiest and oldest markets in Delhi, which sees 4-6 lakh daily visitors.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta while ensuring that every possible assistance is being ensured for those affected, appealed to people to “avoid rumours and maintain peace”. “Please rely only on official information issued by the police and administration,” she said.
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