Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reviewing the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah after a deadly car explosion in Delhi killed at least eight people. In a post on X, the Prime Minister extended his condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the blast and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured, stating that “those affected are being assisted by authorities.”
The explosion, which also injured 19 people, occurred on Monday evening near the iconic Red Fort, a 17th-century palace that is one of India’s most significant monuments. The blast has prompted a major security response, with high alerts issued for Mumbai, the state of Uttar Pradesh, and large train stations throughout India. Security in the capital is the responsibility of the federal Home Ministry, which is now leading the response.
Home Minister Amit Shah, who traveled to the explosion site, emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages. He stated that it was “difficult to say what caused the incident” and that clarity would only come after forensic analysis of samples from the scene. Shah assured that the investigation would be comprehensive, covering all possible angles. The registered owner of the car involved has reportedly been detained.
The blast itself was devastating. It originated from a car stopped at a red light outside the Red Fort metro station, according to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha. The explosion was powerful enough to destroy more than a dozen nearby vehicles, including cars and rickshaws, and sparking a large fire. Dozens of fire engines were needed to control the blaze.
Witnesses at the scene described the chaos and horror. One resident saw “body parts all over” after hearing the loud explosion. Another described feeling shock waves in nearby buildings and seeing gruesome sights, including a body torn to pieces. The 19 injured were rushed to a government hospital for treatment.