The blast near the Red Fort in the capital, Delhi, which claimed 13 lives, has shaken the nation. Security forces are now scrambling to find clues as to what led to the blast. Forensics teams, Delhi police and NIA personnel, and dog squads are at the spot to collect samples and evidence. A case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been registered.
Several states, such as Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, are on high alert following the Delhi blast.
The explosion occurred at 6:52 pm inside a Hyundai i20, which was standing at a red light. As the blast radius spread, the flames engulfed the other vehicles around it.
Witnesses claimed two-three people were sitting in the Hyundai i20 at the time.
It is not known what kind of explosives, if any, went off. It yet to be ascertained if this was a planned attack or if was the blast accidental triggering of explosives being transported. Home Minister Amit Shah said all angles were being probed.
The blast came a day after the Jammu and Kashmir police recovered nearly 350 kg of explosives from two residential buildings in Faridabad in Haryana. Delhi Police are probing whether the two developments have a link.
The impact of the Delhi blast scattered the human body parts nearly 100 metres. Thus, a powerful explosive material is suspected to have caused the blast.
After the incident, CCTV footage of the car and it’s path till the spot was scanned and the registered owner was traced to Delhi’s Okhla. He claimed that he had sold the vehicle to a person in Haryana. His claims are now being probed.
The Red Fort has been closed for the next three days
Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a high-level meeting at 11 am at Kartavya Bhavan to take updates of the probe and decide the future course of action. The meeting will be attended by the Union Home Secretary, Intelligence Bureau chief, Delhi Police Commissioner, and NIA chief.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said the Lal Quila (Red Fort) Metro Station has been closed, following the blast as security concerns persisted.
The Delhi Traffic Police closed the stretch between Chhatta Rail Cut and Subhash Marg Cut on the Netaji Subhash Marg due to security concerns. The blast spot has, meanwhile, been covered up by the security.
The investigating agencies are probing the possible use of ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and detonators in the car blast. The car has been sent to the forensics lab for investigation.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised against all travel within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border. The Wagah-Attari border crossing is closed. FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, except for: travel by air to and from the city of Jammu, travel within the city of Jammu.
The FCDO has also advised against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur including the capital, Imphal. Curfews and restrictions continue in parts of Manipur following violent ethnic clashes that broke out in 2023. Intermittent violence continues, including during May to July 2025.
Also Read: Red Fort blast: First CCTV image of suspect Dr Umar emerges
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