An explosion in a car near the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi has left at least eight dead and dozens injured, putting the capital of India on high alert. On Monday night (local time), a powerful explosion occurred in a car very close to the metro station of one of the city's main tourist attractions. Few places in Delhi are as popular as the intersection near the historic Red Fort, which attracts thousands of tourists every day. Local media images show a dramatic fire at the scene after the flames spread to other parked cars. The scene is devastating: destroyed vehicles and scattered debris, evidence of an explosion powerful enough to be felt over a wide distance. Neighbors have described the incident as a "strong explosion" and claim they had "never heard anything like it before."
At least eight fatalities and over twenty injured have been reported by police sources. The state of maximum alert has been declared in this mega city with a metropolitan area where more than 34 million people reside.
Delhi authorities are being very cautious about what has happened as they investigate the events. However, local media reports indicate that a terrorist attack is highly likely.
Delhi Police Chief Satish Golcha explained that the explosion occurred when a Hyundai i20 - with three people on board and a license plate from the state of Haryana - was slowly advancing towards a red traffic light around 18:52 (local time) near one of the intersections of the popular Chandni Chowk market that connects to the Red Fort, a heavily trafficked area throughout the day.
Several fire trucks were quickly mobilized, and the Minister of the Interior, Amit Shah, stated that the situation was being evaluated. "All possibilities are being explored," Shah said, emphasizing that various National Guard teams are investigating the incident. The car owner has been arrested, as reported by the Indian channel NDTV.
"I was sitting inside my shop when the explosion happened. It was extremely strong. I had never heard anything like it before," a local merchant told ANI news agency. "Everyone started running in all directions," another witness highlighted.
According to a senior police official, security is being reinforced at "sensitive religious sites, vulnerable districts, and border areas" in the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India, a densely populated region that is home to famous sites like the Taj Mahal. While the causes of the explosion are being investigated, the magnitude and location of the incident have revived fears of several attacks that marked the country in the mid-2000s, leaving hundreds dead.
"My condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the explosion this afternoon in Delhi. Authorities are providing assistance to those affected," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented shortly after the news broke around 19:30 hours, about an explosion that took place in one of the city's most symbolic and visited locations.
The Red Fort in Delhi, located a few kilometers from the Parliament, was built between 1638 and 1648 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the same ruler who commissioned the Taj Mahal. It served as the primary residence of the emperors for nearly 200 years until the British took power in the 19th century. Its name comes from the reddish color of the sandstone it is made of, and its architecture combines Islamic, Persian, and Hindu styles, reflecting the cultural richness of the Mughal Empire. Several palaces, gardens, audience halls, and mosques were built inside the fort.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, in recent history, the location holds significant political weight because when India gained independence in 1947, this was the setting for the first speech by leader Jawaharlal Nehru. Since then, every August 15, prime ministers deliver their annual Independence Day speech in front of this monument.