 "Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI File")
Shortly after a high-intensity explosion ripped through a car parked near the Red Fort metro station on Monday evening, gutting several vehicles and killing at least eight people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation as he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, according to an ANI report, citing govt sources
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah promptly contacted the Delhi Police Commissioner to review the situation.
According to ANI report, specialised teams from the National Security Guard (NSG), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the forensic department were immediately dispatched to the site.
The Home Minister continues to maintain regular communication with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director to monitor developments in Delhi.
Speaking to the media, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed that he spoke to the Home Minister and information is being shared with him from time to time
“Today at around 6.52 pm, a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light. An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged. All agencies, FSL, NIA, are here… Some people have died, and some have been injured in the incident. The situation is being monitored. The Home Minister has also called us, and information is being shared with him from time to time,” said Golcha.
Twenty-four people were injured in the blast, which occurred during a busy evening when the area was crowded. The injured were taken to LNJP Hospital, a few kilometres away.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsVideos shared by the Chandni Chowk Traders’ Association highlighted the magnitude of the blast, showing bodies lying on vehicles and on the road. Eyewitnesses said body parts were scattered near the blast site.
A high alert has been sounded in Delhi. Ten fire tenders were rushed to the scene, and police cordoned off the area, the Delhi Fire Services said. Officials said the fire was brought under control by 7:29 pm.
“Six cars, two erickshaws and one autorickshaw were gutted in the fire,” PTI quoted a fire department official as saying
The blast was so powerful that it shattered the windows of vehicles parked several metres away. The sound was reportedly heard as far as ITO.
“The blast occurred in a car parked near Red Fort metro station gate number 1. The intensity was quite high. Injuries are feared,” senior official of Delhi Fire Service told PTI.
Visuals of the incident showed plumes of fire billowing from the burning cars. Panic gripped the area as several vehicles were damaged following the loud explosion.
An injured eyewitness, who suffered a wound on his forehead, said, “There was a Swift car in front of my auto. There was something in that car that suddenly blasted.”
Another witness said, “I was at the gurdwara when I heard a strong sound. We couldn’t make out what it was, it was that loud. A number of vehicles nearby were completely damaged.”
Sanjay Bhargaw, president of the Chandni Chowk Traders Association, whose shop is about 800 metres from the site, said the entire building shook due to the blast. “There was chaos in the market as people started running,” he added.
The blast came hours after the recovery of around 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and a cache of arms and ammunition from a Kashmiri doctor’s rented accommodation in nearby Faridabad. Haryana Police, in coordination with their Jammu and Kashmir counterparts, arrested Dr. Muzammil Ganaie from Faridabad’s Dhauj area, seizing explosive materials, weapons, and timers.
Officials said eight people, including three doctors, were arrested, and 2,900 kg of explosives were recovered following the uncovering of a “white collar” terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Among those arrested during the 15-day operation were Dr. Ganaie and Dr. Shaheen, a woman doctor from Lucknow, who was taken by air to Srinagar for custodial interrogation. An AK-47 rifle was recovered from her car.
With inputs from agencies