NEW DELHI, India — A powerful explosion ripped through a slow-moving car near the traffic signal by the Red Fort Metro Station in New Delhi Monday evening, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 20 others. The blast occurred around 6:50 p.m. local time and triggered fires that engulfed multiple vehicles, according to officials.
Preliminary investigations by the Delhi Police indicate that the explosion occurred in a car that had stopped at a red signal near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station. Police Commissioner Satish Golcha noted there was no crater at the site and no pellet or splinter injuries typical of a bomb blast, so authorities are still probing whether it was a bomb attack or a vehicle malfunction.
Fire engines and emergency services responded immediately. Scenes from the site show thick smoke, mangled vehicles and panicked crowds in the heritage-area thoroughfare.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the scene and the injured at hospital, and said all possibilities will be explored in the investigation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Authorities have issued a high alert across Delhi and neighboring states, and forensic teams including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are examining CCTV footage and vehicle remnants.
At this time, there is no confirmed motive or attribution. The investigation is ongoing. While the number of victims may still rise, the current toll stands at eight dead and over 20 injured.
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What’s happened so far in Delhi Blast
A vehicle exploded at about 6:52 p.m. Monday near the traffic signal outside the Red Fort Metro Station in New Delhi, when a slow-moving car came to a halt at a red light.
The vehicle has been identified as a Hyundai i20 registered in the Indian state of Haryana.
At least 8 people are confirmed to have died, with around 20–24 injured. Some reports suggest the death toll may rise.
Several nearby vehicles – including cars and auto-rickshaws – caught fire in the blast.
Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the blast in Delhi earlier this evening. May the injured recover at the earliest. Those affected are being assisted by authorities. Reviewed the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah Ji and other officials.@AmitShah
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 10, 2025
Investigation & response
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), the National Security Guard (NSG), and forensic teams have been dispatched and are examining the scene, reviewing CCTV footage and analyzing debris.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah said “all possibilities” are being considered — including whether this was a terror attack, accident or some other form of explosion.
Preliminary reports suggest no crater was found at the site and no splinter-injury pattern typical of certain bombs, which raises uncertainty about the nature of the explosion.
Security measures & wider impact
A high alert has been issued across Delhi and neighboring states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra. Vehicle and person checks have been intensified, especially in high-traffic and historic areas.
Witnesses described the explosion as extremely loud and destructive, with one saying: > “I never heard such a loud explosion ever in my life. It felt as if we were all going to die.”
What remains unclear
The motive behind the explosion is still under investigation. It is not yet confirmed whether this was a targeted attack or an accidental explosion.
The exact number of casualties is still being updated and may change.
Whether the vehicle itself was the target, or whether something inside it detonated inadvertently, is yet unknown.
