8 Dead in Blast Near Red Fort, India’s Symbolic Monument

A car explosion just outside the historic Red Fort, one of India’s most significant monuments, has killed eight people and injured 19. The blast on Monday night has struck at a symbolically important location in the heart of Old Delhi. The Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal palace, is featured on banknotes and is where the Prime Minister makes the annual Independence Day address.
The explosion occurred at a red light near the Red Fort metro station. Police said a slow-moving car had stopped at the light when it exploded, igniting a fire that spread to over a dozen other vehicles. The area, usually “heaving with people,” was thrown into chaos. Dozens of fire engines and ambulances rushed to the scene.
Witness accounts have detailed the horror of the blast. One resident, Om Prakash Gupta, reported seeing “body parts all over” and vehicles on fire. Another witness described a “very strong explosion” that sent shock waves through buildings and tore a victim’s body to pieces. The 19 injured were taken to a government hospital.
The government has launched a full-scale investigation. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the scene, confirming all angles are being explored and that the cause is not yet known. The registered owner of the car has reportedly been detained. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and is reviewing the situation with Shah.
This is the most significant blast in Delhi since 2011. The city has a history of blasts in the 1980s and 1990s in crowded public areas. In response to this new incident, authorities have put Mumbai, the state of Uttar Pradesh, and large train stations on high alert.