Delhi Red Fort blast: Several states on high alert, directives issued for religious sites, sensitive districts and border areas

Police personnel stand guard near the spot after a blast occurred in a parked car near Red Fort, leaving multiple vehicles in flames, in New Delhi

Several states including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Haryana have been  put on  high alert following the high-intensity blast near New Delhi's Red Fort Metro which has claimed at least 8 lives and injured more than 24 individuals.

Detailing the incident, Delhi police commissioner Satish Golcha said that a “slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light” at around 6.52 pm near the Red Fort. “An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged. All agencies, FSL, NIA, are here...” Golcha said. The commissioner further said that the situation is constantly being monitored, adding that union home minister Amit Shah also contacted the cops, and information is being shared with him regularly.

Almost two hours after the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressing the press said he will visit the site of the explosion near the Lal Qila metro station, and the Lok Nayak Hospital where the injured have been taken soon. He said all possible angles are being probed as part of the investigation into the explosion in an i20 car near the Red Fort.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation after an explosion took place near the Red Fort in Delhi. The blast took place near Gate 1 of the Lal Qila metro station. Modi also spoke to union home minister Amit Shah regarding the situation.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi has called the explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi “deeply saddening and concerning.” “The loss of many innocent lives in this tragic accident is deeply distressing,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

An auto driver who sustained injuries in the blast near the Red Fort said the car which exploded was two feet away from him. “The car in front of me was about two feet away. I don’t know whether there was a bomb in it or something else, but it exploded. It was a Swift Dzire car,” he told PTI news agency.

A team from the special cell of the Delhi police has arrived at the site of the explosion to assess the damage caused. Seven fire tenders had earlier been rushed to the spot after a call regarding the explosion was received around 7 pm.