Delhi on high alert after car explosion kills 9 near Red Fort

A massive explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10 evening killed nine people and injured more than a dozen others, sending shockwaves through the heart of the national capital. The blast occurred around 6:50 pm near the Red Fort Metro Station, igniting several vehicles and prompting a large-scale security response.

Eyewitnesses said a white Hyundai i20 with Haryana registration plates was stationary at a traffic signal when it suddenly exploded, triggering a fire that spread to other vehicles. Eye witnesses said the sound was like a bomb and there was smoke everywhere.

Flames engulfed at least five vehicles parked nearby. Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot and managed to control the blaze within 40 minutes, but by then the area had turned into a scene of devastation. Police later confirmed that nine people, including two women, were killed on the spot, while several others sustained serious burns and injuries.

Delhi Police and central security agencies swiftly cordoned off the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk area. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guard (NSG) have joined the probe, with preliminary reports suggesting that the explosion may have involved a high-intensity improvised explosive device (IED).

“Forensic teams are collecting samples from the site. We are analysing CCTV footage to identify suspects and vehicles that may have passed through the area before the explosion,” Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora was quoted as saying by the media.

The incident has raised major security concerns as it comes hours after nearly 2,900 kg of explosives were seized in neighbouring Faridabad. Officials are investigating whether the two events are linked.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to top Delhi Police and Intelligence Bureau officials late Monday night, directing them to “leave no stone unturned” in identifying those behind the explosion. “The government will ensure the strictest action against anyone responsible for this heinous act,” Shah said in a statement.

The injured have been admitted to LNJP and Lok Nayak hospitals, where several are said to be in critical condition. Authorities have set up a helpline for families of the victims.

Traffic was diverted across large parts of central and north Delhi as teams from the NSG’s bomb disposal unit and NIA continued searches late into the night. Security was also tightened at metro stations, airports, and other crowded public spaces across the city.

The Red Fort, one of India’s most visited monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been temporarily closed to the public. Investigators said the blast’s timing (during the evening rush hour) appeared deliberate, aimed at maximising casualties and panic.