US says ‘closely monitoring situation’ after blast in Delhi kills at least 8 people

A high alert has been sounded in Delhi and other states, and security has been beefed up at city border points, with vehicle checking intensified.

The United States on Monday said it is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to provide consular assistance in the wake of the deadly bomb blast near Red Fort in New Delhi that has killed at least eight people and injured many more.

A State Department spokesperson told PTI that “we are aware of the explosion near Red Fort in Delhi. We are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to provide consular assistance.”

A high-intensity explosion ripped through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station in Delhi, killing at least eight people and gutting several vehicles.Twenty-four people were injured in the blast that took place on a busy evening when the area was milling with people. The injured were taken to the LNJP hospital, a few kilometres away.

A sudden, deadly explosion ripped through a slow-moving car near the crowded Red Fort metro station during rush hours on Monday evening, killing eight people and leaving several vehicles charred. Twenty-four people were injured and rushed to LNJP Hospital, just a few kilometres away.

A high alert has been sounded in Delhi and other states, and security has been beefed up at city border points, with vehicle checking intensified. Ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot as police cordoned off the area, the Delhi Fire Services said. The blaze caused by the blast was brought under control by 7.29 pm, officials said.

According to a fire department official, six cars, two e-rickshaws and one autorickshaw were gutted in the fire. The blast was so powerful that it shattered the window panes of vehicles parked several metres away, and the sound was heard at ITO, a few kilometres from the site.