A seemingly ordinary Monday evening in Delhi turned into a scene of chaos and terror as a powerful explosion ripped through a white Hyundai i20 near the historic Red Fort, killing at least 13 people and injuring several others. The blast, which occurred during the evening rush hour, sent shockwaves through the city, leaving streets littered with charred vehicles and debris, and triggering immediate panic among residents and commuters.

The explosion occurred at approximately 6:52 pm on Netaji Subhash Marg, close to the Red Fort Metro Station, as the car came to a halt at a traffic signal. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said that the impact of the blast caused nearby vehicles to catch fire, including at least six cars, two e-rickshaws, an auto-rickshaw, and a bus. Most casualties were due to severe burns, and authorities rushed the injured to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.

In response to the incident, security across the country, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), was immediately heightened. High alert was issued not only in Delhi but also in other major cities, including Mumbai and Pune. Law enforcement agencies intensified patrols and security checks at key locations such as government offices, metro stations, airports, and crowded marketplaces like Sarojini Nagar. NCR cities including Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad also saw increased vigilance as a precautionary measure.

Investigating the Blast: Multi-Agency Response

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the media, assuring the public that the government was taking all necessary measures to investigate the incident thoroughly. He stated that specialised teams from the Delhi Police Crime Branch, Special Cell, National Security Guard (NSG), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) arrived at the blast site within ten minutes of receiving the information. Shah emphasised that authorities were examining all possibilities, including the use of explosives, and that the investigation was being conducted with full intensity.

Officials have detained two previous owners of the Hyundai i20 as part of tracing the vehicle’s ownership history and determining how it ended up at the blast site. According to Gurugram Police, the car was initially registered to a man named Mohammed Salman, who sold it to a resident of Okhla named Devender around one-and-a-half years ago. Investigators said Devender later sold the car to an individual named Tariq, who then sold it to someone in Ambala. Authorities are still trying to locate the last buyer to fully trace the chain of custody of the vehicle.

CCTV footage has proven critical in reconstructing the car’s movements. Early analysis suggests that the Hyundai i20 was parked for nearly two hours in a lot adjacent to the Red Fort before the explosion. The footage shows the vehicle arriving near the Shantivan Marg side of the monument around 4 pm with three occupants inside. Roughly two hours later, it was seen leaving the parking area, taking a U-turn near Old Delhi Railway Station, and proceeding towards Lower Subhash Marg, where the explosion occurred moments later. The area remains cordoned off as forensic teams meticulously examine material evidence collected from the scene.

Nature of the Explosion Under Investigation

While the exact cause of the blast has not been confirmed, early reports suggest that the intensity and resulting heat of the explosion were inconsistent with an ordinary CNG cylinder blast, which was initially theorised. Authorities have not ruled out foul play and are investigating the possibility that an explosive device may have accidentally detonated during transport.

A senior Special Cell officer noted that no nails, shrapnel, wires, or chemical residues were recovered from the blast site, which complicates efforts to pinpoint the exact nature of the device used. The vehicle was retrofitted with a CNG tank, leading to initial confusion about the cause of the explosion, but forensic analysis will provide more clarity in the coming days.

Human Impact and Casualties

Hospital officials confirmed that among the injured were 14 residents of Delhi, three from Uttar Pradesh, one from Uttarakhand, and one from Himachal Pradesh. Families of the victims were grappling with shock and grief, as emergency services worked tirelessly to manage the situation. Authorities continue to appeal to the public to avoid the area while investigations are ongoing.

The blast prompted immediate alerts across schools and colleges in Delhi-NCR, though they remain open and operational. The Delhi government has not issued any closure orders, but security measures around educational institutions have been intensified. Railway stations across the capital, including New Delhi, Old Delhi, Anand Vihar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Ghaziabad, have been placed on precautionary alert. Key markets, including Chandni Chowk, remain open, albeit under heightened surveillance.

National Security and High Alert Measures

Following the blast, states across India, particularly those experiencing sensitive electoral or political activity, were placed on high alert. Bihar, which was conducting the second phase of assembly elections, received special security attention. Other states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, were instructed to strengthen surveillance, deploy additional patrols, and monitor critical infrastructure.

The Delhi Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) invoking multiple sections of law, including Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which deal with acts of terrorism and supporting terrorism, as well as Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act. Two individuals are currently being questioned regarding their knowledge of the car’s chain of ownership, and investigations continue to track the final buyer and potential connections to criminal or terrorist networks.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has maintained active communication with law enforcement officials, stressing that all leads are being pursued, including forensic examinations and CCTV reviews, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the incident. The Forensic Science Laboratory is conducting a detailed examination of samples collected from the blast site to ascertain the type of explosive used and its source.

Public Response and Precautionary Measures

Residents of Delhi expressed shock and fear in the aftermath of the explosion, with many eyewitnesses recalling scenes of people running for safety as the blast sent vehicles and debris flying across the road. Social media platforms have been flooded with videos and photographs showing the immediate chaos, highlighting the intensity of the incident. Authorities have urged citizens to remain calm, follow police instructions, and avoid unnecessary travel in the affected areas.

The incident has sparked debate over security preparedness in the capital, particularly near sensitive heritage sites such as the Red Fort, which attract both tourists and locals. The government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening security infrastructure and ensuring that high-risk locations are closely monitored.

Tracing the Vehicle and Chain of Events

Investigators have focused on the car’s ownership history as a key lead. The Hyundai i20 had changed hands multiple times, complicating the investigation but offering a trail for authorities to follow. The systematic questioning of previous owners aims to determine whether the vehicle was knowingly used to transport explosives or whether its involvement was incidental.

Analysis of CCTV footage has been instrumental in piecing together the car’s movements, revealing that the vehicle’s occupants spent nearly two hours parked near the Red Fort before driving towards the location of the blast. The investigation is seeking to understand why the car was stationary for such an extended period, whether surveillance footage shows interactions with other individuals, and whether there was any intent to target specific locations.

Conclusion

The Red Fort blast has highlighted both the vulnerabilities of urban centres to explosive incidents and the importance of rapid, coordinated responses from law enforcement and security agencies. With 13 lives lost and many injured, authorities face the dual challenge of providing immediate relief and conducting a thorough investigation to prevent recurrence.

As Delhi remains on high alert, citizens are urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with authorities. Multi-agency teams continue to work round the clock, sifting through evidence, interrogating suspects, and analysing surveillance material to uncover the chain of events leading to the blast. The government has pledged transparency and swift action, while the public watches closely, hoping for clarity on the cause and perpetrators of one of the most serious security incidents in recent memory.

The incident underscores the urgent need for heightened security measures at crowded and sensitive sites, and serves as a stark reminder of the constant vigilance required to protect urban populations from potential threats. The coming days are expected to bring further developments as investigators piece together the details of the blast and take necessary actions against those responsible.

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