Several people nearby were blown apart, their body parts strewn. Multiple cars caught fire, and windowpanes were blown, buildings shook — all within an instant. At peak hours in a massively crowded area in perhaps the most famous tourist area in Delhi, when a car stopped at the red light near the metro station gate in front of Red Fort. It had been moving slow. The time was 6:52 pm when it stopped at the traffic signal. Then, it exploded.
Several people nearby were blown apart, their body parts strewn. Multiple other cars caught fire, windowpanes were blown, buildings trembled. Eight deaths were reported so far, and the reason for the car blast remained under investigation. Just after the high-intensity blast in what was later found to be Hyundai i20, it took about three minutes for someone to call the fire brigade.
Where did the blast occur?
The call came in at 6:55/6:56 pm, a note shared by the Delhi fire department said: “CALL TYPE: Some kind of Blast and Vehicle Fire, ADDRESS: Lal Qila metro Station Gate No.1 near Gauri Shankar Mandir Some kind of Blast and Vehicle Fire.” The spot on Subhash Marg is in a central tourist area, and generally sees rush of locals too, with Chandni Chowk and other major spots within walking distance. The place has a number of places of worship. The facade of the Mughal-era fort proper is several metres from the blast spot, but its lawns are right across the road.
Reasons yet unknown — fears and speculation peaking — cops from Delhi Police and some central agencies reached the spot. By 7:30, one death was confirmed. Twenty minutes later, news came in from the LNJP Hospital nearby. The toll was eight by 8 pm.
Fear echoes across India, online
High alert was, meanwhile, sounded across the national capital after the explosion near the 17th-century sandstone fort. The imposing monument is a symbol of government in India even now, and from which the Prime Minister speaks on August 15, India’s Independence Day. Multiple big cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata were put on alert immediately, and then the entire states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat were among those that followed.
Back at the spot, officers from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is tasked with probing terrorism-related and other crimes that affect national security, also reached within the hour. Forensic evidence was being gathered while social media went abuzz recalling major blasts in Delhi, including the most recent terror attack outside the high court in 2011 and the serial blasts that occurred almost to the day 20 years ago.
There was more immediate feed for the fear too — a massive terror module busted in neighbouring Faridabad, Haryana, just hours earlier on Monday. But no terror connection with the Red Fort blast was made by the investigators as of 10 pm.
“There is no crater at the spot, so we cannot say if it is a bomb blast. Also, no pellet or splinter injuries have been reported so far, which are common in bomb explosions,” a senior officer said. It was not immediately clear if the CNG or fuel tank of the car exploded.
Investigation underway: ‘All angles being probed’
PM Narendra Modi had already spoken to home minister Amit Shah, who was constantly in touch by now with Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha. Shah said all possibilities were being investigated.
