Chaos and panic erupted in Delhi on Monday night after a car exploded near the historic Red Fort, killing eight people and injuring 19. The blast, which occurred at a busy red light, sparked a massive fire that engulfed more than a dozen other vehicles and sent bystanders running for their lives.
Emergency services, including dozens of fire engines and ambulances, descended on the scene. Fire services confirmed that 19 injured individuals were rescued and transported to a government hospital. Television news channels broadcasted images of the aftermath, showing a car with its doors completely blasted off, blackened and burned motorcycles, and a street littered with debris.
Eyewitnesses provided chilling accounts of the explosion’s power. One witness told reporters the force of the blast sent shock waves through adjacent buildings. Another, a local resident named Om Prakash Gupta, described a horrific scene of “several vehicles on fire” and “body parts all over,” including a body he saw on the windscreen of a car.
The investigation was launched immediately, with top government officials overseeing the response. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site, stating that the cause is not yet known and all angles are being pursued. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed the death toll had risen to eight, with 20 injured, and said the situation was being monitored.
The incident has put the entire national capital on edge. The Red Fort is located in the heavily congested Old Delhi area, a hub for tourists and locals alike. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, while authorities enacted a high alert for major cities and transport hubs.