NEW DELHI: A massive explosion near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station in Old Delhi on Monday evening claimed eight lives and left several others injured, plunging the bustling area into chaos and panic. The blast occurred close to the busy Chandni Chowk locality, one of the oldest and most congested commercial centres in the national capital.
According to government sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation soon after the explosion and spoke with Home Minister Amit Shah to take stock of the developments.
Posting on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister wrote: “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. Reviewed the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah Ji and other officials.”
Preliminary reports indicate that the explosion originated from a CNG cylinder inside a car, which subsequently caught fire, spreading rapidly to nearby vehicles — including 7–8 cars, autorickshaws, motorcycles, and scooters. The incident took place near the Lal Quila police post under the jurisdiction of Kotwali Police Station in the North District.
Although the blast occurred some distance away from the metro gates, the glass facade of Gate No. 1 was shattered by the impact. Both Gates 1 and 4 have been temporarily closed as a precaution. Metro authorities confirmed that the situation inside the station is normal and additional staff have been deployed at the Lal Quila Metro Station to manage passenger safety.
According to early hospital reports, eight victims succumbed to their injuries before reaching the hospital, while seven others were admitted with varying degrees of trauma. Of these, three are in critical condition, a senior official from Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital told The Sunday Guardian on Monday.
“We received 15 victims from the explosion. Unfortunately, eight were declared brought dead, while three others are critically injured and under intensive care. One patient is currently stable,” the hospital’s Medical Superintendent confirmed.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha says, “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.”
Senior Delhi Police officials stated that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the explosion. “At this stage, we cannot share specific details. Our teams are thoroughly investigating all aspects of the incident,” said a police officer at the scene.
A team from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) also arrived to assist in the initial probe. DIG, CRPF, who was among the first senior officers to reach the location, said, “It’s too early to draw any conclusions. I’m heading to the site for an on-ground assessment.”
According to Deputy Chief Fire Officer A.K. Malik, the Delhi Fire Service received an emergency call reporting a car explosion near Chandni Chowk Metro Station and promptly dispatched multiple units to the site.
“We were alerted about a car blast near the Red Fort Metro area. Seven fire tenders were immediately deployed, and the blaze was brought under control by 7:29 pm,” Malik said. “There appear to be several casualties, and our teams are still engaged in rescue and cooling operations,” he added.
Eyewitnesses described heart-wrenching scenes of devastation and confusion moments after the blast. “When we saw someone’s hand lying on the road, we were completely numb. It’s hard to put the horror into words,” said a local resident who was near the station when the explosion occurred.
Another witness said the area was littered with debris and wrecked vehicles. “As we moved closer, we saw body parts scattered across the street. No one could comprehend what had happened. Many cars were destroyed in the explosion,” he recounted.
Mohan, another eyewitness, told the Sunday Guardian, “I saw five occupants of the car in which the blast took place being engulfed by flames right in front of my eyes.” He added that it didn’t appear to be a normal cylinder explosion. “The flames were unusually high and there was a strange smell — not like that of gas.”
Mohan, who had just left Gauri Shankar Temple near the blast site, said he narrowly escaped. “I was saved by a minute. Had I stayed any longer, I might not have survived,” he said.
Amanpreet Singh, a local shopkeeper, said, “I’ve never heard such a loud explosion in my life. I was sitting on a chair and was thrown off balance by the shockwave.”
Another visibly shaken shopkeeper told The Sunday Guardian, “The blast was so strong that I fell three times. It felt like the whole area was collapsing. For a moment, I thought we were all going to die. Several vehicles were damaged, and people were running in panic,” he said.
Immediately after the explosion, Delhi Police cordoned off the area, diverting traffic and closing the routes leading to both Red Fort and Chandni Chowk Metro Stations. Bomb disposal and forensic teams were deployed to examine the debris, collect evidence, and determine the nature of the explosion.
Officials have yet to confirm whether the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) or another source. Investigators are currently reviewing CCTV footage from nearby cameras to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the incident.
Senior officers from multiple security and intelligence agencies — including the Delhi Fire Service, CRPF, and Intelligence Bureau — have reached the site to assess the situation and coordinate the response.
As per data released by LNJP Hospital, 15 victims were brought in following the blast. Eight were declared dead upon arrival, while seven others remain under medical supervision. Of these, three are in critical condition and one is reported to be stable, according to hospital officials.
Authorities have assured that a detailed and comprehensive investigation is underway, and more information will be released as soon as the cause of the explosion is confirmed. Meanwhile, Delhi Police have appealed to citizens to remain calm and avoid circulating rumours on social media.
Security has been tightened across the Red Fort area and adjacent metro stations as a precautionary measure.
The shocking incident has left the capital in mourning, with eyewitnesses calling it one of the most terrifying explosions witnessed in the heart of Delhi in recent memory.
