A massive fire engulfed a crowded Delhi intersection on Monday night after a car exploded, killing eight people and injuring 19. The blast ignited a blaze that destroyed more than a dozen vehicles, including cars, rickshaws, and motorcycles, leaving a scene of charred wreckage near the Red Fort.
The incident began just before 7 pm when a car waiting at a red light outside the Red Fort metro station suddenly detonated. Witnesses described the explosion as “very strong,” with shock waves rattling nearby buildings. News footage showed the chaotic aftermath, with people screaming in panic and one car visible with its doors completely blown off.
The human toll was severe. Graphic accounts from witnesses emerged, with one describing a “hand on the road” and a body “torn into pieces.” Another witness, Om Prakash Gupta, reported the horrifying sight of “body parts all over” the area. Dozens of fire engines and ambulances rushed to the scene to battle the inferno and rescue the survivors. The 19 injured victims were transported to a government hospital.
The investigation is now being led by the federal Home Ministry. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site and stressed that the cause of the blast is not yet known. A forensic analysis of samples collected from the scene will be required to determine what caused the detonation. Shah assured that “all angles” are being investigated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered condolences to the victims’ families. In response to the attack, a high alert has been activated in Mumbai, the state of Uttar Pradesh, and at major train stations across India. The registered owner of the car that exploded has reportedly been detained for questioning.