An explosion was reported in a car near Delhi's Red Fort today
Eight people were killed and 24 were injured after an explosion in a car at a crowded area near the Red Fort in Delhi today. The vehicle exploded outside gate No. 1 of Lal Quila metro station. The National Investigation Agency has gone to the site.
Here's your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story
- An eyewitness to the explosion told NDTV he saw body parts fly and land on the road, right in front of him. "One person's body was torn into pieces. I saw a hand on the road," he told NDTV in front of the Red Fort. "I can't describe it in words; it was a very strong explosion." Another eyewitness said nearby buildings, window frames and doors shook due the blast's shockwave.
- The explosion happened in a slow-moving vehicle near the Red Fort traffic signal at 6.52 pm, Delhi Police chief Satish Golcha told reporters. He said there were people in the car.
- Many cars caught fire due to the blast at the area popular with tourists, 1.1 km from Jama Masjid and a few hundred metres away from Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib.
- Visuals from the area indicate the damage was extensive and not superficial. Neighbourhoods in Purani Dilli (Old Delhi) near the Red Fort are one of the most crowded in the national capital.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to senior Delhi Police officers and is constantly monitoring the situation, sources said. He also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.
- "I saw a huge fireball from my terrace, and came running down to see what happened. The explosion was very loud. My house is near the gurdwara," a resident told NDTV.
- Nearly a dozen ambulances rushed to the area to evacuate injured people.
- "It happened all of a sudden. I felt the explosion happened in more than just one car," another eyewitness told NDTV.
- Neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and the financial capital Mumbai have been placed on high alert.
- Earlier today, over 2,500 kg of chemical used to make explosives were recovered from terror suspects in raids across the country.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
