What Happened Before the Blast Near Red Fort on Monday Evening

New Delhi: Panic gripped the national capital on Monday evening when a powerful explosion occurred in a car parked near the Red Fort Metro Station. The blast left at least 10 people dead and over 30 injured, officials confirmed. The explosion, which took place during rush hour in a crowded area, set several nearby vehicles on fire and shattered window panes of surrounding buildings.
The injured were immediately rushed to Lok Nayak Jayaprakash (LNJP) Hospital. A video shared by the Chandni Chowk Traders’ Association showed the horrifying aftermath of the explosion — bodies lying on the road and mangled vehicles engulfed in flames.
According to reports, at around 6:52 p.m., a Hyundai i20 car carrying three occupants was slowly moving towards a red light near the Gauri Shankar and Jain temples in the Red Fort area when it suddenly exploded. The blast was so intense that multiple vehicles caught fire and debris was scattered across the street.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said, “The vehicle was moving slowly and had just stopped at the red light when the explosion occurred. Several nearby cars and pedestrians were affected by the impact.”
Police sources said it is still unclear whether the car — possibly loaded with explosives — was heading toward a crowded location and detonated prematurely, or if it was part of a larger conspiracy. The incident occurred on the same day that authorities busted an interstate terror module and seized 2,900 kilograms of explosive-making chemicals, including ammonium nitrate.

However, police officials stated that this blast appears to have no direct link with the recent seizure of arms and explosives from a group of doctors in Faridabad, Haryana. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that no line of investigation is being ruled out, and all possibilities are being examined.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos. “The explosion was so strong it felt like the ground shook beneath us. Streetlights fell, and cars were flung as far as 150 meters,” one eyewitness recalled. Another said, “People started running for their lives; there was a stampede. We thought if another blast occurred, none of us would survive.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed on the situation and spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah for updates. The Prime Minister directed security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation from every possible angle.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “The car explosion in Delhi is deeply painful and disturbing. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police, NIA, and forensic teams are jointly investigating the incident, and a high alert has been issued across the capital.