New Delhi: The Lal Qila Metro Station has been sealed off and services suspended following the powerful explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening, which left nine people dead and more than 20 injured. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) confirmed that while the Lal Qila station will remain closed until further notice, all other stations across the network continue to operate normally.
According to officials, the Delhi Fire Services received a distress call around 7 p.m., moments after a white Hyundai i20 exploded near Gate No. 1 of the Lal Qila Metro Station, one of the busiest intersections in the capital. The blast, which occurred around 6:52 p.m., set off a chain of fiery destruction, igniting several vehicles and scattering debris across Subhash Marg, a key artery connecting Old Delhi’s commercial zones.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with flames engulfing cars and bystanders rushing to help victims trapped in the wreckage. Emergency teams from the fire department, police, and disaster response units swiftly arrived on the scene, ferrying the wounded to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital.
Footage from the site showed twisted metal, shattered glass, and burn-scorched vehicles littering the street as police cordoned off the area. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said initial reports indicate the explosion occurred in a stationary car at the traffic light, and all possible leads are being explored.
“Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas, and forensic teams are analyzing remnants of the vehicle,” Shah said, adding that agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), and Delhi Police’s Special Cell are jointly handling the probe.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed that provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have been invoked after preliminary intelligence hinted at possible terror links.
The explosion has triggered heightened security nationwide. States including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Bihar which is currently in the midst of elections have been placed on high alert.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has intensified patrolling at vital installations across the Delhi-NCR region, including IGI Airport, Delhi Metro, government buildings, and the Red Fort complex. Meanwhile, the Chandni Chowk market, a crowded shopping hub adjacent to the blast site that draws nearly half a million visitors daily, will remain closed today as a precautionary measure.
Authorities are also investigating potential links between the blast and a recent seizure of 2,900 kg of explosive material in Haryana’s Faridabad, just 50 km from Delhi, which was uncovered hours before the Red Fort explosion.