Red Fort blast: Toll rises to 9, several states on high alert

A powerful explosion tore through a slow-moving vehicle at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station in New Delhi on Monday evening, resulting in at least nine fatalities and leaving several others injured. The blast, which occurred during the peak of evening traffic, also caused significant damage to nearby vehicles.

Authorities said 24 people were injured in the blast and were rushed to LNJP Hospital, located a few kilometers away. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed that the explosion occurred inside a Hyundai i20 car, which was occupied by three people at the time. "We have not found any pellets or shrapnel in the bodies of the injured, which is unusual for a bomb blast. We are investigating all possibilities," said a senior police officer.

According to fire department officials, the blast severely damaged six cars, two e-rickshaws, and one auto-rickshaw. The explosion was so intense that it shattered windows of vehicles parked several meters away, and its reverberations were heard as far as ITO, a few kilometers from the blast site.

Vehicle Details and High Alert
The vehicle, which had a Haryana license plate, was registered in the name of  Md Salman. Salman had sold his car to a person in Okhla, the official said, adding that the car was registered in his name and had a Haryana registration number plate.

“Delhi Police along with Gurugram police detained Md Salman on Monday and is questioning him about the car. He had sold it to a person in Okhla named Devendra. Later, the vehicle was again sold to someone in Ambala and police are tracing the people,” a senior police officer said.

In response to the blast, Delhi has been placed on high alert, with increased security measures at border checkpoints and heightened vehicle inspections across the city.

Panic gripped the area as flames engulfed nearby vehicles following the explosion. Videos shared by the Chandni Chowk Traders' Association showed the devastating aftermath, with one video depicting a mangled body on a car and another showing body parts scattered across the road. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the blast's horrific impact on the surrounding area.

Ten fire trucks were dispatched to the site to extinguish the flames, which were brought under control by 7:29 pm, according to fire department officials. Police cordoned off the area as authorities began their investigation.

PM Modi, Amit Shah briefed
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been briefed regularly on the situation. In a statement, Delhi Police Commissioner Golcha confirmed that the explosion occurred around 6:52 pm, when the vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station. "Other vehicles were also affected by the blast. All relevant agencies, including Delhi Police, the Forensic Science Laboratory, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the National Security Guard (NSG), are on the scene," Golcha said.

Shah spoke with the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau to monitor the situation. He also instructed the NSG, NIA, and forensic teams to assist in the investigation and gather evidence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the deaths and instructed authorities to ensure a thorough investigation. No terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack at this time.

Police probe
The police are reviewing CCTV footage to track the movements of the vehicle prior to the explosion. They are also questioning local residents and collecting testimonies from eyewitnesses. Authorities are analysing mobile data and cross-referencing dossiers of suspected terrorists.

Connection to Ammonium Nitrate Seizure?
The blast comes just hours after authorities discovered approximately 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and a large cache of arms and ammunition in a rented property in Faridabad, located on the Delhi-Haryana border. The Haryana Police, in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir authorities, arrested Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, a Kashmiri doctor, in connection with the seizure.

Market closure and local response
In the wake of the tragedy, local markets in the Chandni Chowk area will remain closed on Tuesday. Sanjay Bhargaw, president of the Chandni Chowk Traders' Association, whose shop is located around 800 meters from the blast site, described the chaos that followed. "The entire building shook from the blast. People started running in all directions," he said.