Authorities are investigating “all angles” following a deadly car explosion in Delhi that killed eight people and injured nearly twenty others. The incident, which took place near the Red Fort, has prompted a massive security response. The registered owner of the car involved in the blast has reportedly been detained for questioning, marking the first significant step in the investigation into the cause of the explosion.
Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah visited the site and emphasized that it is currently “difficult to say what caused the incident.” He stated that a conclusive answer would only be possible after samples recovered from the blast site are fully analyzed by forensic experts. Shah assured the public that the investigation would be thorough, stating, “We do not consider any angle closed. We will investigate all angles with determination.”
The explosion occurred at a busy intersection just outside the Red Fort metro station. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha explained that a slow-moving car had stopped at a red light when the blast erupted from within it. The force of the explosion was substantial, damaging over a dozen other vehicles, including cars, rickshaws, and motorcycles, and sparking a large fire that required dozens of fire engines to control.
The human toll was immediate and severe. At least eight people were confirmed dead at the scene, and 19 others were transported to a government hospital for treatment. Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of the aftermath, with people screaming in panic amidst scenes of destruction, mangled bodies, and vehicles with their doors blasted off.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the incident on social media, expressing his condolences and confirming that he is monitoring the situation with the Home Minister. In response to the blast, authorities have heightened security, placing major transport hubs like large train stations, as well as the city of Mumbai and the entire state of Uttar Pradesh, on high alert.