Red Fort Blast: Nine Dead, 20 Injured in Delhi Car Explosion

NEW DELHI — Disturbing CCTV visuals have surfaced showing a white Hyundai i20 moments before it exploded near the historic Red Fort on Monday evening, claiming nine lives and injuring more than 20 people. The car, registered under number HR 26CE 7674, was parked in a nearby lot for over two hours before the tragic blast occurred.

Prime Minister’s Response and Security Review

Following the explosion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued his first public message emphasizing unity and resilience. Security chiefs immediately briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah as the death toll rose. Shah stated that specialized teams from the Crime Branch and Special Branch reached the location within ten minutes of the explosion and that every possible angle is being investigated thoroughly.

Suspect Linked to Faridabad Explosives Case

Preliminary investigations point toward a suspect identified as Umar, who has been absconding in a related explosives case in Faridabad. Surveillance footage shows the Hyundai i20 entering the parking lot, driven by a man wearing a blue-and-black T-shirt with his hand resting casually on the window.

Moment of the Blast and Its Impact

The explosion took place around 6:52 PM at the Subhash Marg traffic signal, near Red Fort Metro Station, during the evening rush hour. The massive blast triggered a chain reaction, igniting several nearby vehicles and plunging the congested Old Delhi area into chaos. Eyewitnesses described a thunderous sound that shattered windows as far as 500 meters away, near Sis Ganj Gurdwara.

Extent of Damage and Eyewitness Accounts

According to initial reports, the explosion engulfed five to six cars, four motorcycles, and three e-rickshaws in flames. Bystanders captured horrifying visuals of burning vehicles and scattered debris. “The casualties were high because this stretch is always packed with bumper-to-bumper traffic,” a police officer explained, describing the area between Delhi Gate and Kashmere Gate—close to Jama Masjid and Old Delhi Railway Station—as one of the city’s busiest corridors.

Swift Emergency Response and Ongoing Investigation

Delhi Police, the Special Cell, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) swiftly arrived at the scene. Fire officials received the first emergency call at 6:55 PM, dispatching seven fire tenders that battled the inferno for nearly two hours before bringing it under control. Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed that the explosion occurred while the vehicle was stationary at a traffic signal. A case has been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Kotwali Police Station.

Tracing the Vehicle and Possible Terror Link

Investigators are analyzing more than 100 CCTV clips, including footage from nearby toll plazas, to track the car’s route toward Daryaganj. The car was reportedly first registered to Salman, a resident of Gurgaon, before being sold to Tariq, a native of Pulwama. Authorities are also probing a potential link between this blast and a foiled terror conspiracy in Faridabad earlier the same day, where a cache of explosives was recovered.

Delhi’s First Major Terror-Linked Blast Since 2011

If confirmed as an act of terror, Monday’s explosion would mark Delhi’s first major blast since the 2011 High Court bombing, reigniting concerns over urban security and intelligence coordination. The investigation continues, with central agencies working to piece together the chain of events that led to this devastating attack.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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