'Huge explosion, shops trembled’: How the Delhi car blast unfolded

Delhi was rocked by a powerful explosion near the Red Fort on Monday evening, leaving nine people dead and at least 24 others injured.

The blast tore through a car waiting at a traffic signal close to the Lal Quila metro station, setting nearby vehicles on fire and sending people running for cover. Within minutes, police, firefighters and ambulances reached the spot as panic spread across the tourist-heavy area.

The injured were rushed to LNJP Hospital, and the entire zone was cordoned off as forensic teams began combing through the debris.

Authorities have launched a probe to determine what caused the explosion and whether there’s a larger network behind it.

Here’s how the Delhi car blast unfolded.

During peak hours near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening, a car, a Hyundai i20, came to a halt near the metro station in the midst of slow-moving traffic. The time was 6:52 pm; the signal had turned red. Within moments, it exploded.

The impact was so intense that the windows of nearby cars shattered, and people in surrounding buildings heard the deafening blast. Flames quickly engulfed nearby vehicles, sending commuters running for safety.

“The intensity was quite high. Injuries are feared,” a senior Delhi Fire Service official told reporters, as rescue teams scrambled to the scene.

An emergency call came in at 6:55 pm, and within minutes, seven fire tenders reached the site. Police immediately cordoned off the area while firefighters worked to douse the blaze.

“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,” an injured auto driver told PTI.

The fire was contained by 7:29 pm, said Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik. “At 7:29 pm, the fire was brought under control,” he confirmed.

Officials later identified the exact site of the blast as outside Gate 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, on the stretch connecting Delhi Gate to Kashmere Gate.

Teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Special Branch reached the spot around 7:02 pm, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, adding that specialised agencies had also joined the investigation.

Eyewitness recalls horror

Moments after the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, chaos erupted across the busy stretch. Witnesses described hearing a deafening blast followed by smoke, flames, and people running for cover in panic.

“Not something, I saw the flames from my house and then came down to see what had happened. There was a loud explosion. Windows were shaken with the intensity. I live nearby,” a local resident, Rajdhar Pandey, told The Times of India.

Another witness said the impact was so strong that nearby buildings and shops trembled. “I had come here to buy something when I heard a huge blast. The whole shop trembled,” he told PTI. “Several people were injured, and many were being taken away from the spot soon after.”

A man who witnessed the aftermath told NDTV, “One person’s body was torn into pieces. I saw a hand on the road. I can’t describe it in words; it was a very strong explosion.”

Officials said 22 vehicles were damaged in the blast, and around 20 fire engines were deployed to control the situation. Videos circulating online showed plumes of fire rising from burning cars, as people screamed and tried to help the injured. Social media was soon flooded with messages of shock and grief, as the nation reacted to the horrific images.

Multiple states on high alert

Following the explosion, security agencies across several states were placed on high alert. Uttar Pradesh was among the first to issue a red alert, with Additional Director General (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash confirming that the DGP had ordered heightened security at all sensitive sites, border areas, and religious places.

“All senior officials have been instructed to step up patrolling, increase checks, and maintain strict vigilance,” Yash told ANI.

Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Kerala, Haryana, and Chandigarh also issued similar alerts. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the state DGP to “exercise complete vigilance” and strengthen security in crowded areas. “A sharp eye should be kept on every suspicious activity,” he said.

In Bihar, police checkpoints were reinforced at key transit points, while in Kerala, police chief Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar ordered intensified surveillance across the state, reported The Times of India. Haryana’s government also instructed district magistrates to review and tighten security arrangements.

Closer to the National Capital, the Noida Police stepped up patrols in Sector 62 and other crowded areas. According to The Indian Express, officers have been directed to set up barricades and thoroughly check suspicious vehicles, especially near the Delhi border.

What is the situation right now?

At present, the area around the Red Fort remains sealed off, with heavy police deployment and forensic teams inspecting the site. Firefighters and officers from the Delhi Police Special Cell are continuing operations.
Entry and exit at Gates 1 and 4 of the Lal Qila metro station have been restricted, though Delhi Metro Rail Corporation confirmed that train services are running normally.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation after speaking with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been receiving constant updates from Delhi Police, the Intelligence Bureau, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

“Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the blast in Delhi earlier this evening. May the injured recover at the earliest. Those affected are being assisted by authorities,” Modi posted on X. “Reviewed the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah Ji and other officials.”

Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the media later in the evening, confirming that “all possible angles” were being investigated.

Leaders across party lines, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, and President Droupadi Murmu, expressed grief and solidarity with the victims’ families. Kejriwal urged citizens to “avoid rumours” and trust official updates.

While the cause of the explosion is still under investigation, officials said it occurred just hours after a major recovery of 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and arms from a Kashmiri doctor’s rented home in Haryana’s Faridabad.

Haryana Police, working with Jammu and Kashmir authorities, had arrested Dr Muzammil Shakeel, a teacher at Al-Falah University, who was reportedly linked to the banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Investigators are now examining whether the two incidents, the Faridabad recovery and the Red Fort explosion, are connected, as security forces across northern India remain on high alert.

With input from agencies