On Monday evening, in the heart of India’s capital, a seemingly routine moment shattered lives and raised alarm. At approximately 6:50 pm IST, a white Hyundai i20 exploded in traffic near the historic Red Fort in Delhi, killing at least ten people and injuring many more. News agencies and official sources now confirm the explosion is being treated as a terror incident. Hindustan Times+4www.ndtv.com+4Wikipedia+4

The Incident and Immediate Aftermath

The blast occurred in a busy and densely-populated section of the city, near Gate 1 of the Red Fort Metro station in Old Delhi, during rush hour when activity is high. The Times of India+3www.ndtv.com+3Reuters+3 CCTV footage from nearby traffic cameras shows the white Hyundai i20 inching through heavy traffic before the explosion. The vehicle is seen slowing, surrounded by rickshaws and other cars, and then a sudden fireball engulfs it. www.ndtv.com+2The Times of India+2

According to officials, the blast caused not only the destruction of the car itself but also damage to many nearby vehicles and structures. A fire broke out, smoke billowed, and stunned bystanders fled. Local witnesses described a loud roar, shattering glass, and scenes of chaos as the explosion ripped through the area. Wikipedia

In response, first-responders including fire-brigade teams, ambulances and paramedics rushed to the scene. Nearby roads were sealed off, traffic disrupted, and security forces cordoned the site for forensic analysis. Political leadership convened urgent meetings; the matter was elevated to the highest levels of government. Hindustan Times+1

Victims and Human Impact

While official tallies are still being reconciled, reports indicate that at least ten people lost their lives in the blast, and dozens more sustained injuries — some serious. Some bodies were badly mutilated, and the scene left deep trauma for survivors and eyewitnesses. Hindustan Times+2The Times of India+2

Families of the victims are grappling with sudden grief. One relative told of identifying their loved one by the clothing, as the body was badly burned and mangled. Hindustan Times The explosion has also triggered fear among shopkeepers and residents in the area of Old Delhi — many say they are unable to sleep, haunted by the blast’s flash and aftermath. Hindustan Times

Investigation: From Blast to Terror Probe

Within hours, the nature of the explosion raised suspicions of a deliberate act. The car was registered and traced; authorities discovered the case would be handled under anti-terror laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act. News On Air+1

The government convened a cabinet meeting and passed a resolution declaring the incident a “heinous terror incident” carried out by so-called “anti-national forces.” The statement directed that the investigation be pursued with “utmost urgency and professionalism” so that perpetrators, collaborators and sponsors are identified and brought to justice without delay. The Times of India+2Reuters+2

Investigators are exploring links between the blast and a terror module busted earlier in the day in the neighbouring city of Faridabad (in Haryana state). In that raid, authorities recovered a large cache of explosive materials — reportedly more than 2,900 kg, including detonators, gel sticks and other bomb-making paraphernalia. Reuters+1

According to several sources, two men arrested in the Faridabad case were doctors, and a link is being probed between them and the driver of the Hyundai i20. The driver has been tentatively identified as Dr Umar Un Nabi, a chemistry lecturer whose movements are under intense scrutiny. Hindustan Times+1

Forensics has been deployed at the blast site, analysing the car’s remains, wiring, residues and fragments to understand how the device was assembled, how the blast was triggered and whether the vehicle was simply a transport for bombs or itself rigged as the explosive device. Some officials believe the bomb may have been placed under the bonnet of the car. Hindustan Times+1

Why the Red Fort Area Was Targeted

The location of the explosion — right near the Red Fort and a busy metro station — is significant. The Red Fort is one of India’s most iconic national monuments, visited by tourists and local commuters alike. Striking such a site not only causes mass casualty potential but also symbolic impact. Wikipedia

Investigators are asking why the attackers chose this particular spot at this particular time. Some intelligence officials suggest the blast may have been triggered prematurely due to panic following the Faridabad arrests and raids. One senior police officer told media that the original plan may have been for a larger attack later (for instance on a national date such as January 26), but the arrest of associates forced a rushed execution. Hindustan Times

Government Response and Security Implications

In the wake of the blast, India’s central government increased security alerts in major urban centres and at infrastructure nodes. The metro station near the incident, as well as nearby traffic corridors and markets, were temporarily shut. Authorities are also on high alert for other potential coordinated modules. News On Air+1

Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, visited the injured at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (Nair) Hospital (LNJP) in Delhi and assured that “those responsible will not be spared”. News24+1 In his statement from Bhutan upon hearing the news, the PM said the nation was deeply disturbed and demanded a full-scale probe. Reuters

The Union Cabinet’s resolution reaffirmed India’s “zero tolerance” policy toward terrorism and emphasised rapid action against perpetrators. The Times of India+1

The blast sends a chilling message: even in heavily-secured national capital corridors, determined terrorist modules can strike distant from borders. Security forces now face a sharper focus on “white-collar terror” — wherein educated professionals, including scientists or university faculty, may be implicated in bomb-making or logistics support, as suggested by details emerging from the investigation. Hindustan Times+1

Wider Significance and What Lies Ahead

This explosion is among the most serious terror incidents in Delhi in over a decade. Its implications span security, intelligence, and urban preparedness. It raises hard questions: how did such an explosive-laden vehicle move into the heart of the city? Why was heavy explosive material allegedly stored and transported? Did intelligence agencies fail to intercept early indicators? Hindustan Times

The links to the Faridabad module suggest an interstate and possibly transnational network. Some reports mention the involvement of the Pakistan-based group Jaish‑e‑Mohammed (JeM), though Indian officials have not yet publicly confirmed direct attribution. The Times of India+1

With the investigation now under the central anti-terror agency National Investigation Agency (NIA), authorities are working to identify all actors, trace funding and logistics, and determine whether this attack was isolated or part of a larger plot. The government has made clear that delays in identifying or prosecuting sponsors and collaborators will not be tolerated. Reuters+1

For residents and visitors of Delhi, the blast near the Red Fort is a stark reminder of urban vulnerability. Markets and tourist districts that rely on large crowds and open flow of vehicles may now see enhanced screening, surveillance and traffic disruptions in coming days. Businesses and citizens in the area around Old Delhi are already reporting heightened anxiety and disruption.

The Human Cost and Emotional Fallout

Beyond the headline numbers lies the pain of individual lives cut short and families shattered. One shopkeeper near the site described how he initially thought the sound was a cylinder bursting — until he went out and saw people lying bleeding on the street, vehicles ablaze, frantic cries for help. Hindustan Times In hospital wards, the injured, many with burns and mutilations, struggle; families await identification of bodies; trauma counsellors are being deployed.

The blast also underlines the vulnerability of everyday commuters and shoppers in public spaces — scenes that many Indians took for granted as safe until now. The psychological effect of such an attack in a high-foot-traffic, emblematic location like the Red Fort cannot be understated — it shakes public confidence and raises questions about urban security in large, historic cities.

Conclusion

What began as a chaotic evening near one of Delhi’s busiest and most historic sites has turned into a full-blown terror investigation. The explosion of the Hyundai i20 near the Red Fort is more than a criminal act — it may represent the culmination of a broader terror module that had been operating across state lines, with access to heavy explosives and possible transnational links. The nation watches, as investigators peel back layers of planning, funding, radicalisation and logistics. Families mourn, victims fight for recovery, and the government pledges swift justice.

In the coming days the probe will need to answer key questions: Who exactly orchestrated the attack? How far had the network progressed in terms of other planned targets? What intelligence gaps permitted this to happen? And crucially, how can Delhi — and India’s major urban centres — bolster their defences to prevent a recurrence? The answers will shape not only the prosecution of the perpetrators but the broader strategy for combating terrorism in the country’s cities.