NEW DELHI, Nov 11: A powerful explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort metro station on Monday evening left at least ten people dead and 24 others injured, throwing one of the capital’s busiest areas into chaos. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has joined the probe to determine the cause and motive behind the blast.
According to officials, the explosion occurred around 6:45 p.m. near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort metro station when the area was crowded with commuters and tourists. Eyewitnesses said the blast appeared to have originated from a parked Swift car, which suddenly erupted into flames before a massive explosion shook the area. The impact was so strong that it shattered nearby windows and was heard several kilometres away, including at ITO. Videos shared on social media showed charred vehicles, thick plumes of smoke, and bodies lying on the road as people ran for safety.
“There was a Swift in front of my auto. Suddenly, there was a huge explosion — everything went up in flames,” said one injured eyewitness with a bandaged forehead. Another witness said he was inside a nearby gurdwara when the ground shook, followed by screams and fire outside.
Delhi Fire Services said ten fire tenders were rushed to the site, and the blaze was brought under control by 7:29 p.m. Six cars, two e-rickshaws, and one autorickshaw were completely gutted. The injured were taken to Lok Nayak Hospital and AIIMS Trauma Centre, where several remain in critical condition.
Soon after the explosion, a high alert was declared across Delhi. Senior officers from Delhi Police, NIA, and forensic teams reached the site to collect samples for chemical analysis to determine the nature of the explosives. A senior official said the NIA’s anti-terror unit is also examining whether the blast could be linked to a major seizure made earlier in the day in Faridabad.
Just hours before the explosion, police in Faridabad recovered around 360 kilograms of suspected ammonium nitrate, along with weapons and detonators, from the rented residence of a Kashmiri doctor. Eight people, including three doctors, were arrested in what officials described as a “white-collar” terror module with links to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. Among those detained were Dr. Muzammil Ganaie from Faridabad and Dr. Shaheen from Lucknow, from whose car police recovered an AK-47 rifle. Investigators are now probing whether the Red Fort blast and the Faridabad seizure are part of a coordinated terror operation.
Security has been tightened across the capital, particularly around metro stations, government buildings, and historical monuments. The Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Home Ministry are monitoring the situation closely, while the Delhi Chief Minister has convened an emergency meeting with top police and security officials.
