New Delhi, Nov 10: An explosion tore through a parked car near the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening, injuring several people and igniting three nearby vehicles, prompting a swift emergency response in one of Delhi’s most crowded corridors.
The blast, reported around 6:45 p.m. outside Gate No. 1 of Lal Qila Metro Station, unleashed flames and dense smoke that sent pedestrians scrambling for cover. Five fire tenders battled the inferno for nearly thirty minutes before bringing it under control. Charred remains of at least four vehicles, their frames mangled and windows shattered, were later seen lining the narrow lane connecting Chandni Chowk and the heritage complex.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of confusion and alarm. “It was like a thunderclap—sudden, loud, and terrifying,” said a shopkeeper who helped usher passersby into nearby stores as the flames surged. “The heat was unbearable. Within seconds, everything was burning.”
Preliminary findings suggest the blast originated inside the parked car, suspected to be a sedan, though officials have yet to determine whether the cause was mechanical failure, accidental ignition, or deliberate sabotage. The Delhi Police Special Cell has taken charge of the investigation, while bomb disposal units scoured the vicinity for any secondary devices.
Senior officers confirmed that a half-kilometer radius around the site was sealed off as forensic teams collected residue samples from the wreckage. “We are not ruling out any angle,” a senior police official told reporters, cautioning against speculation while confirming that the incident is being examined in light of recent seizures of explosive materials across northern India.
The explosion has heightened security concerns across the capital, which has already been on alert following coordinated raids last week that uncovered 350 kilograms of bomb-making materials and a cache of automatic rifles in states bordering Delhi. Security has since been stepped up at metro stations, markets, and key landmarks, including India Gate and Parliament House.
At least six people were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital with burns and shrapnel injuries, two of them reported to be in critical condition. Authorities have so far confirmed no fatalities. Ambulances and fire engines continued to line the cordoned zone late into the night as investigators combed through debris under floodlights.
The blast has revived memories of past attacks that have shaken the capital—from the Parliament assault in 2001 to market bombings in later years—raising questions about preparedness and the resilience of urban security frameworks.
Sources said that the Prime Minister’s Office convened an emergency review meeting, focusing on coordination between intelligence and local enforcement agencies. Police are tracing the vehicle’s ownership and verifying surveillance footage to identify the individual who parked it at the site earlier in the evening.
