A blast in a “slow-moving i20 car” at a traffic signal near Lal Quila metro station near the Red Fort in Delhi claimed at least eight lives on Monday evening. The metro station lies on the Violet Line of the Delhi Metro and is one of the main commuting point for people visiting the area. Gate No. 1 of the station, where the explosion took place, opens towards the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort, which faces the Ballimaran area and Chandni Chowk Road.
The famous Chandni Chowk market is about two kms away from the station. The Chandni Chowk market will remain closed on Tuesday following the explosion, market association president Sanjay Bhargawa told news agency PTI.
A look at the geography of blast site
According to the police and first responders, the blast took place near Lal Quila Metro Station’s gate number 1. The station has four entry and exit gates, each connecting to a key part of Old Delhi. Gate No. 1 opens towards Chandni Chowk, Gate No. 2 leads to the Old Delhi Railway Station, located about 1.6 kms away. Gate No. 3 opens towards Yamuna Bazar and Gate No. 4 provides direct access to the Red Fort.
The location also has Hindu an Jain temples nearby. The Gauri Shankar Temple is located about 140 metres from the Lal Quila Metro Station, while the Shri Digambar Jain Temple is even closer, at a distance of around 110 metres from the station. Both temples are just a short walk away.
Connaught Place and the Income Tax Office (ITO) are both located within 10 kms of the Red Fort. According to reports, the sound of the blast was heard till ITO.
