Delhi on Edge: Car Explosion near Red Fort Sparks Panic

Poonam Sharma
New Delhi was rocked on Sunday evening when a powerful car explosion tore through the bustling Red Fort area close to 7 PM, sending the city into shock and panic. Initial reports have confirmed that more than ten people have died, while several others were seriously injured, and the authorities fear that this number may increase due to many of them being in critical condition.

The blast in one of the most sensitive and high-security zones of the capital immediately triggered a multi-agency security response. The Union Home Minister rushed to the site along with the Delhi Police Commissioner and top intelligence officials, conducting an on-ground assessment late into the night.

Nothing Ruled Out: All Angles Under Investigation

According to senior officials, “no line of inquiry has been ruled out.” Preliminary assessments are underway, and both terror and accidental explosion angles are being probed. Investigating teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), and Delhi Police’s Special Cell are coordinating closely and collecting forensic samples from the blast site.

According to security sources, the car that exploded was a Hyundai i20 and bore a Haryana registration number. Investigators traced the ownership to a person who is being questioned. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the car had been used to transport “inflammatory material”, though the nature of the explosives is not yet known.

In fact, within 48 hours after this incident, security forces across the country had busted two major terror modules-one each in Rajasthan and Maharashtra-both involving the recovery of large quantities of unassembled explosive materials. This proximity in time has raised serious concerns within intelligence circles about possible coordination or a larger network at play.

Union Home Ministry Calls Early Morning Meeting

The Union Home Ministry has called for an extensive early morning meeting to review the facts and progress of the investigation. Top officials from the Intelligence Bureau, NIA, NSG, and Delhi Police will attend. Given that Delhi’s law and order and overall security fall directly under the Home Ministry, the response has been swift and centralized.

Following an inspection of the site, the Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly stressed that “nothing will be taken lightly.” Instructions have been issued to all central and state agencies to remain on the highest state of alert, especially in metro cities and public hubs.

High Alert Declared Across the Country

A nationwide security alert has been issued following the explosion. Cities on high alert include Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Noida, and Faridabad. The CISF has tightened security at all major installations – airports, ports, and government buildings. The Hyderabad police have started intensive checks across old city areas. Commuters are being stopped at random and their vehicles scanned.

Public transport hubs, especially in the national capital, have seen heavy deployment of Delhi Police, Rapid Action Force (RAF), and the Anti-Terror Squad. NSG bomb disposal teams are combing the Red Fort perimeter for any secondary devices.

Early Reports and Eyewitness Accounts

Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos and confusion. “There was a sudden deafening sound followed by thick smoke. Cars were damaged, and people were running for cover,” said a shopkeeper near the Red Fort parking area.

Emergency response teams quickly cordoned off the entire area, with fire brigades and ambulances rushing the injured to nearby hospitals. Forensic experts have been working through the night to determine whether the blast originated from within the vehicle or was triggered externally.

Political Condolences and Public Reaction

Condolences have been coming from all sides since the incident. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and said there will be strict action against those responsible. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the incident, saying it was “a grave assault on the peace of the capital.”

Public sentiment is still on edge, with outrage and fear expressed by citizens following the security lapse in such a sensitive area, barely a few kilometers from the seat of India’s central government.

Conclusion: A City on Guard

As the capital of India, Delhi gets up for a new day, it is the shadow of the Red Fort blast that looms. Investigators are racing against time to piece together evidence to identify who might have done this, and how-whether it was an act of terror or a tragic accident. The coming hours will be crucial in understanding whether this was an isolated incident or a grim warning of a larger, coordinated threat, with national security agencies on full alert and the Home Ministry directly overseeing developments.