Delhi Red Fort blast: Streetlights shattered, vehicles thrown up to 150 metre away; how did it occur?

PTC Web Desk: A Maruti Suzuki Eeco minivan exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort area at around 6.52 pm on Monday, killing 10 persons and injuring more than 20 others, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed. The vehicle was moving slowly towards a red light near the Gauri Shankar and Jain temples when the explosion occurred, damaging several nearby cars.

Eyewitnesses described the blast as extremely powerful, with streetlights shattering and vehicles being thrown up to 150 meters away. “The explosion was so intense it felt like the earth caved in,” one witness said, describing the chaotic scenes near the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk area. Many people ran for safety, and some fell during the panic.

The blast occurred near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort (Lal Qila) Metro Station, one of Delhi’s busiest and most visited tourist areas. Flames from the explosion engulfed the minivan and nearby vehicles, prompting authorities to impose a high alert across the national capital.

Police sources said it is still unclear whether the van was intended to detonate in a more crowded location and exploded prematurely. The incident coincided with the day an interstate terror module was busted and 2,900 kg of explosives, including ammonium nitrate, were seized in Faridabad, Haryana. However, officials have clarified that the Red Fort blast is not linked to the earlier seizure of explosives from the arrested group in Faridabad.

The intensity of the blast caused widespread panic, with eyewitnesses recounting the terror of the moment. “People were falling on each other while running. We feared a second explosion might kill us all,” said another witness.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause and nature of the explosion, while security has been heightened across Delhi and neighbouring states.