Delhi Red Fort blast LIVE: Owner of car that exploded traced, being interrogated; Amit Shah reaches blast site

Hours after a powerful blast in a "slow-moving" Hyundai i20 near Red Fort killed eight people and injured more than a dozen, investigators have begun tracing the ownership history of the vehicle involved, IE reported.

Police have questioned a Gurgaon resident in whose name the car is currently registered. The man has reportedly told investigators that he sold the vehicle some time ago. Investigators are working with the RTO to determine its present owner.

According to IE report, investigators are examining whether the car changed hands multiple times — first from the Gurgaon resident to a man based in Okhla, and later possibly to a resident of Ambala. Establishing this chain of ownership has become a key focus of the probe.

Once the vehicle number was confirmed, police checked it against surveillance databases. The Hyundai i20 was last captured by Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras in Southeast Delhi’s Badarpur area in June, the report further stated.

Home Minister Amit Shah stated details from the blast and told ANI, "This evening, around 7 pm, a blast occurred in a Hyundai i20 car at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near the Red Fort in Delhi. The blast injured some pedestrians and damaged some vehicles. Preliminary reports indicate that some people have lost their lives. Within 10 minutes of receiving the information of the blast, teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Delhi Special Branch arrived at the spot. The NSG and NIA teams, along with the FSL, have now begun a thorough investigation. Orders have been given to examine all nearby CCTV cameras.”

Eyewitness Mohsin Ali described scenes of panic and confusion as the blast ripped through an area that is almost always crowded. The Lal Quila Metro station stands adjacent to Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s busiest hubs for shoppers and tourists. Ali told IE, “It was a strong blast. This area is always heavily crowded. It was extremely packed today. I couldn’t see how many people were injured in the stampede that followed, but many had fallen to the ground.”

"The car blast incident in Delhi is extremely painful and disturbing. At this moment of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted on X.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi took to X to condole the loss of lives in the car explosion near Red Fort on Monday evening. "The news of the car explosion near Delhi's Red Fort Metro Station is extremely heartbreaking and concerning. The report of the deaths of several innocent people in this tragic incident is profoundly sorrowful. In this hour of grief, I stand with the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones and express my deepest condolences to them. I hope for the swift recovery of all the injured," he wrote.

Uttar Pradesh has been placed on high alert following the explosion. ADG Law and Order Amitabh Yash told ANI that the state DGP has issued instructions to all senior officials to tighten security immediately. The UP security apparatus has been directed to intensify vigilance at sensitive religious sites, high-risk districts and border areas adjoining Delhi. All security agencies across the state have been alerted, Yash said.

“Police in all districts of Uttar Pradesh have been put on alert. An order was issued from Lucknow to increase patrols and checks in sensitive areas,” he added, noting that enhanced monitoring and coordinated surveillance are now underway to prevent any spillover threats.

Chandni Chowk market to be closed on Tuesday following blast near Red Fort, Market association president Sanjay Bhargaw said.

- via PTI

Sanjay Bhargava, president of the Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, described scenes of devastation following the explosion near Red Fort. He told Indian Express that the blast was so powerful its tremors were felt nearly a kilometre away. “Buildings shook as if an earthquake had struck… there were bodies lying on the road — someone’s arm in one place, someone’s head in another,” he said.

The explosion occurred near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort, directly across from the busy pedestrian stretch of Chandni Chowk. Bhargava said the market quickly descended into chaos. “All shops have now been closed. The roads are jam-packed, and there’s panic among shoppers. People are rushing to leave… there’s a long queue outside the market’s parking area as everyone is trying to get to their cars and exit as quickly as possible,” he added.

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached the spot. The blast was so powerful that it shattered the windows of vehicles parked several metres away. According to a PTI report, the sound was heard at ITO a few kilometres away.

Medical Superintendent at LNJP Hospital told ANI that 15 people have been brought to hospital. "Eight of them died before reaching the hospital. Three are seriously injured. One is in stable condition," the official said.

Several people reportedly got injured in the explosion and they were rushed to the LNJP hospital, ANI quoted sources as saying.

A video from the blast site posted by news agency IANS shows the damaged area. According to the Indian Express, one person has died and several have been injured following the explosion. The reason behind the blast is being investigated.

Delhi: A parked car near Gate 1 of Lal Quila Metro Station exploded, causing fires in three nearby vehicles. The fire department received the alert following blast-like sounds and has deployed seven fire trucks. Further details awaited.

(Source: Fire Department) pic.twitter.com/lIAhJHZ2Lw

— IANS (@ians_india) November 10, 2025

Injuries are feared after blast in car parked near Red Fort; many cars on fire, officials said.