At 6:52 pm on a bustling monday evening, the iconic red Fort — a symbol of India’s pride — turned into a scene of carnage. A car exploded into a fireball near Lal Qila Metro Station Gate No. 1, leaving eight people dead and at least a dozen others injured. Within seconds, panic gripped central Delhi. Flames devoured nearby vehicles, screams pierced the winter air, and bystanders watched in disbelief as the city’s heartbeat momentarily stopped.
🚨 The Blast That Shook Delhi
According to the Delhi fire Services, the first call came in around 7:00 pm, reporting an explosion near the red Fort. Responders arrived to find charred vehicles, debris scattered across the road, and smoke blanketing the area. The epicenter was a single car, which had reportedly stopped at a red light before detonating.
Nearby vehicles caught fire, their frames twisted by the impact. “It looked like a war zone,” said a rescue official.
Eyewitness videos flooding social media show burning wrecks and shattered glass, as terrified people tried to pull the injured from mangled cars.
💥 “A Loud Boom... and Then fire Everywhere”
Locals around Lal Qila described a deafening blast that shattered the evening calm. “I fell three times due to the explosion. It felt like the ground itself shook. I thought we were all going to die,” said one shopkeeper from chandni Chowk.
Another witness painted a chilling picture:
“When we reached the spot, we saw body parts on the road. The air smelled of burnt metal and fuel. No one knew what had just happened.”
These accounts echo the chaos that followed — traffic halted, smoke spiraling into the night sky, and sirens wailing as ambulances fought their way through Old Delhi’s narrow lanes.
🧠 What the police Know So Far
Delhi police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed that a “slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light” before the explosion occurred. “The blast damaged nearby vehicles. All agencies — including FSL, NIA, and NSG — are present at the site,” Golcha said, describing an ongoing multi-agency probe.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Officials have not ruled out sabotage or terror links, but are waiting for forensic confirmation.
Union home minister amit Shah has been in constant touch with the delhi police and the Intelligence Bureau. He also briefed Prime minister Narendra Modi, who is said to be closely monitoring the developments.
🧩 NSG, NIA, and CRPF on the Ground
Within an hour of the explosion, teams from the National Security Guard (NSG), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) reached the blast site.
A Special Cell unit from the delhi police, along with the CRPF’s Deputy Inspector General, has cordoned off the area to collect fragments of the car and trace explosive residues.
Experts say the blast pattern suggests a high-intensity device, possibly triggered remotely or due to an unstable fuel source — though no official confirmation has been issued yet.
Leaders React: “Extremely Alarming”
delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal called the explosion “extremely alarming and tragic.”
“It is reported that some people have lost their lives, which is extremely tragic. The police and government must immediately investigate the cause of this explosion and probe whether there was any conspiracy behind it,” kejriwal said on X.
Political leaders across parties have condemned the incident, urging authorities to maintain calm and ensure transparency in the investigation.
🏙️ Market Shuts Down, Fear Grips Old Delhi
Following the explosion, the Chandni Chowk market association announced that the historic market will remain closed on Tuesday as a mark of respect and to ensure safety.
Sanjay Bhargaw, the association’s president, said:
“We cannot take chances. The area is tense, and people are scared. We’ll wait until authorities declare the zone safe.”
police presence remains heavy across central delhi, with barricades near Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and Daryaganj.
⚠️ The Questions That Haunt delhi Tonight
As delhi wakes up to smoke and fear, the city is asking the same chilling questions:
• Was this a terror attack or a tragic accident?
• How did a car near one of India’s most secure zones explode so easily?
• And most hauntingly — could this have been prevented?
The answers, investigators say, will come only after forensic reports. But tonight, the heart of India’s capital beats under the shadow of fear — a reminder that even its most guarded landmarks are not immune to chaos.
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