Delhi Blast Horror: 10 Dead, 24 Injured Near Red Fort as Terror Angle Under Probe

New Delhi, Nov 10 — A devastating explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort claimed 10 lives and injured 24 others on Monday evening, triggering one of the largest multi-agency investigations in recent memory. The blast occurred around 6:52 pm, when a Hyundai i20 bearing a Haryana registration number exploded while halted at a traffic signal close to the Lal Quila Metro Station.

Eyewitnesses described a deafening noise followed by a ball of fire that engulfed nearby vehicles and street vendors. Panic swept the crowded Chandni Chowk–Daryaganj corridor as commuters ran for cover amid the flames and smoke.

Massive Security Response

Within minutes, teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), Delhi Police Special Cell, and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) cordoned off the area. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that “all possibilities are being explored,” directing agencies to probe mechanical, chemical, and terror-related causes.

“Every agency—from NSG bomb-disposal experts to NIA counter-terror officers—is on the ground. No conclusion will be drawn until scientific evidence is complete,” said Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha.

Officials are analysing fragments from the car chassis, metal residues, and fuel components to determine the ignition source. While no crater or visible wiring was found, investigators are not ruling out the use of a small-yield improvised explosive device (IED) concealed within the vehicle.

A City on Alert

In the aftermath, a high-security alert was declared across Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. Vehicular checks, metro screenings, and drone surveillance intensified around heritage and government sites. Nearby metro stations—Kashmere Gate, Jama Masjid, and Lal Quila—remained closed for several hours as NSG units completed secondary sweeps.

Emergency services transferred victims to Lok Nayak and RML Hospitals, where doctors confirmed multiple cases of burn injuries and blast trauma.

Expert Analysis and Historical Parallels

Speaking to All India Story, former Uttar Pradesh DGP Prakash Singh said the incident mirrors Delhi’s past experiences with urban terror. “History repeats itself. Delhi has faced similar attacks before—the 2000 Red Fort assault and the 2005 Sarojini Nagar bombings both began with small detonations that later revealed coordinated planning,” he noted.

Security analyst Dr Tara Karta, former Defence Intelligence official, cautioned against premature conclusions. “The absence of a crater or detonator fragments could suggest an accidental chemical or fuel explosion, but the pattern of the fireball and intensity indicate possible sabotage,” she said.

Former Karnataka DGP Shankar Bidri echoed that assessment, warning that “urban terror cells often test responses through single-vehicle blasts near symbolic landmarks.” He emphasised that the proximity of the explosion to a UNESCO World Heritage Site underscored a potential intent to send a message rather than cause mass destruction.

Ongoing Investigation

Sources within the NIA told All India Story that forensic samples have been dispatched to the Central Forensic Lab (CFL) in Pune. Investigators are tracing the car’s ownership trail through Haryana RTO records and analysing CCTV footage showing the vehicle entering Old Delhi approximately 30 minutes before the blast.

No organisation has claimed responsibility. However, initial intelligence inputs suggest online chatter from pro-Pakistan extremist channels referencing “Delhi revenge,” prompting agencies to examine any cross-border link.

Public Safety and Policy Questions

The blast has revived debate over Delhi’s urban security grid. Despite extensive CCTV coverage, several cameras near the intersection were found non-functional. Experts say the incident exposes persistent vulnerabilities in vehicle screening and crowd-control coordination during rush hour.

For residents, the event rekindles memories of earlier tragedies that shook India’s capital. Crowds gathered silently near barricades late Monday evening, watching as investigators collected evidence from the scorched vehicle remains under floodlights.

Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that the government’s priority is “to identify those responsible and ensure no such lapse occurs again.” As agencies reconstruct the sequence of events, the blast stands as a grim reminder that even in the heart of the nation’s capital, vigilance must be constant and collective.