Eight killed as massive blast rocks Red Fort area in New Delhi
New Delhi, November 10: A massive explosion near the Red Fort metro station shook the heart of the capital on Monday evening, killing at least eight people and injuring twenty-four others in what officials described as a high-intensity blast. The explosion, which occurred around 6:45 pm in a parked car close to Gate No. 1 of the metro station, triggered a massive fire that engulfed several vehicles and sent shockwaves through the bustling Chandni Chowk–Red Fort area.
According to preliminary reports from the Delhi Fire Service, ten fire tenders were rushed to the scene as flames leapt from multiple cars. The fire was brought under control by 7:29 pm, but by then six cars, two e-rickshaws, and an autorickshaw had been completely gutted. The area, usually crowded with locals and tourists, was thrown into chaos as panic-stricken people ran for safety amidst blaring sirens and rising smoke.
Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture of the aftermath. “I was sitting in my auto when a white Swift car parked ahead suddenly exploded. The sound was deafening, and flames spread in seconds,” said an injured driver, his forehead bleeding. Another witness, present at a nearby gurdwara, recalled the ground shaking and the loud bang reverberating through the narrow lanes. The blast shattered windows of vehicles parked several metres away, with the sound reportedly heard up to ITO, several kilometres from the site.
Graphic visuals captured by bystanders and members of the Chandni Chowk Traders’ Association showed mangled cars, flames, and scattered body parts. One video showed a body lying atop a vehicle while another depicted debris and blood on the road. “The impact was terrifying. The entire market was gripped by fear, and people were running in all directions,” said Sanjay Bhargaw, president of the Chandni Chowk Traders’ Association, whose shop is situated around 800 metres from the blast site.
Authorities swiftly cordoned off the area, and a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived to examine the site. Senior Delhi Police officials confirmed that forensic experts were collecting samples to determine the nature and source of the explosives used. The blast occurred only hours after Haryana Police, in collaboration with their Jammu and Kashmir counterparts, uncovered a major terror module involving eight people, including three doctors, linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind networks.
In that operation, conducted in Faridabad’s Dhauj area, 360 kilograms of suspected ammonium nitrate, sophisticated arms, ammunition, and detonators were seized from the rented residence of Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, a Kashmiri doctor. Ganaie was taken into custody along with several accomplices, including a woman doctor, Dr. Shaheen from Lucknow, who was later flown to Srinagar for interrogation. An AK-47 rifle and timers were recovered from her car.
Officials are probing possible links between the Red Fort explosion and the Faridabad seizure, as early intelligence suggests coordination between the two incidents. Investigators are also examining whether the explosive materials recovered in Haryana were part of a larger terror plot targeting Delhi.
The Delhi Police have declared a high alert across the capital and deployed additional forces in sensitive areas, including key transport hubs, tourist sites, and markets. Hospitals have been directed to remain on standby, while the crime scene remains sealed for forensic investigation.
