At least eight people were killed on Monday after a vehicle exploded near the historic Red Fort in one of Delhi’s most crowded districts, police said, marking a rare blast in the heavily secured capital.
Police spokesperson Sanjay Tyagi said the cause of the explosion is still under investigation. India’s financial hub Mumbai and the state of Uttar Pradesh were placed on high alert in response to the incident, according to local media reports.
Television channels reported that around 20 people were injured, with ambulances and emergency responders rushing to the scene.
Images from the area showed wrecked vehicles and debris scattered along a narrow street near a metro station. Police cordoned off the scene as crowds gathered.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said the explosion occurred shortly before 7 p.m. local time.
“A slow-moving vehicle had stopped at a red light. The explosion took place within that vehicle and the impact caused damage to nearby vehicles,” he said.
Federal and state investigative teams have been deployed, while Home Minister Amit Shah has been briefed, Golcha added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to families of the victims, writing on X that authorities were assisting those affected and that he had reviewed the situation with senior officials.
Delhi’s deputy fire chief said six vehicles and three auto-rickshaws caught fire following the blast, but the flames have since been extinguished.
Witnesses described panic in the area.
“I heard an explosion and saw fire. People started running everywhere,” said Suman Mishra, who was nearby at the time.
The Red Fort, a major Mughal-era landmark and tourist site, is also the location where the prime minister delivers India’s annual Independence Day address.
Delhi has seen bomb attacks in the past, particularly in the late 20th century, though such incidents have become rare. The last major blast in the capital occurred in 2011 outside the Delhi High Court.