Delhi Blast: Massive explosion near Red Fort claims at least 12 lives; check top 10 developments

A high-intensity explosion ripped through a car parked near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening, killing at least 12 people and injuring several, as per PTI report.

The blast, which occurred during peak evening hours, triggered a massive fire that gutted several vehicles in the area.

The Delhi Fire Services said ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and the blaze was brought under control by 7:29 pm. “Six cars, two e-rickshaws and one autorickshaw were gutted in the fire,” PTI quoted a fire department official as saying.


Also Read: Delhi Blast: At least nine killed after car explodes near Red Fort Metro Station; Delhi, Mumbai on high alert



Here are the top developments so far from the incident:

1. Delhi Police commissioner Satish Golcha on Monday said the blast took place in a slow-moving vehicle near the Red Fort traffic signal. "There was a blast around 6.52 pm in a slow moving vehicle near Red Fort. There were passengers inside the vehicle," PTI quoted Golcha as saying, adding other vehicles were damaged in the incident.
2. The explosion originated from a Hyundai i20, confirmed Home Minister Amit Shah. The Delhi Police detained the owner of a car in which an explosion occurred near the Red Fort, an official told PTI.
3. At least ten killed in the blast so far; several vehicles gutted, 20 injured, as per PTI.
4. The injured were taken to the Lok Nayak Hospital for treatment. Amit Shah, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta visited the hospital to meet the injured. MHA to meet investigating agencies on Tuesday.
5. Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and multiple states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Kerala have been put on high alert following the incident.
6. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and senior Delhi Police officers reached the site soon after the incident. Police have cordoned off the area, and forensic teams are examining the scene.
7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation after the blast and spoke with the home minister. Shah, in a press briefing, stated that all angles were being explored. "CCTV footage will also be investigated," he added. Investigators are probing all possible angles, including a terror link.
8. Following the blast, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) issued high alert across the country — including airports, Delhi Metro, heritage sites, government buildings and other key installations under its security cover. Keeping in view the emergent situation Eastern Railway has stepped up the security measures.
9. Sanjay Bhargaw, president of the Chandni Chowk Traders’ Association, said his shop, located about 800 metres away, shook from the impact. “The entire building trembled, and people started running in panic,” he said.
10. The explosion came hours after police recovered around 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and a large cache of arms and ammunition from the rented accommodation of a Kashmiri doctor in Faridabad.