At least eight people were killed and several others injured in a powerful explosion near the iconic Red Fort on Monday evening, triggering panic and placing the national capital on high alert. The blast reportedly originated from a car parked outside the Lal Quila Metro Station, just meters from the historic monument, as evening crowds gathered in the area.
Emergency services responded within minutes, with around seven fire tenders and multiple ambulances rushing to the scene. Authorities swiftly cordoned off the area as rescue operations continued late into the night. Forensic teams and bomb disposal units are currently examining debris to determine the nature and source of the explosion.
While the exact cause of the blast remains under investigation, security agencies suspect a possible terror link. The explosion comes only hours after Delhi Police and intelligence units intercepted a massive consignment of explosives and weapons—including approximately 350 kilograms of bomb-making chemicals such as RDX, along with assault rifles—during coordinated raids across Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. Two doctors were arrested in connection with the seizures for their alleged involvement in terror modules.
Investigators are probing whether the Red Fort blast is connected to this earlier arms haul, raising fears of a coordinated terror network planning large-scale strikes in urban centers. Officials say preliminary leads suggest that the explosives seized earlier may have been part of a broader plot targeting high-profile landmarks.
Following the explosion, Delhi Police and central security agencies have intensified security around critical installations, government buildings, markets, and transportation hubs. Metro authorities have heightened surveillance, and door-to-door searches are underway in nearby neighborhoods to track down possible accomplices.
The government has appealed for calm, assuring citizens that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure public safety. Prime Ministerial sources have confirmed that top-level security meetings are underway to review the situation.
This attack, striking at the heart of India’s capital and near one of its most cherished national symbols, serves as a grim reminder of the persistent threat of terrorism and the urgent need for vigilant intelligence and coordinated security responses.
(With agency inputs)
