Panic and horror gripped Old Delhi on Monday evening after a powerful explosion ripped through a car parked near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, killing eight people and injuring at least 24 others. The site, one of Delhi’s busiest tourist zones, quickly turned into a scene of devastation, with burning vehicles, shattered glass, and terrified residents rushing to safety.
An eyewitness, still trembling as he spoke to NDTV, said he saw body parts scattered on the road just moments after the blast. “One person’s body was torn into pieces. I saw a hand lying on the road. I can’t describe it in words—it was a very strong explosion,” he said, adding that the deafening sound left his ears ringing.
Another witness told reporters that the shockwave from the blast shook nearby buildings. “I saw the flames from my house and ran outside to see what had happened. The entire area was shaking,” said local resident Rajdhar Pandey.
A shopkeeper, who was inside his store when the explosion occurred, described the experience as “terrifying beyond imagination.” “I have never heard such a loud sound in my life. I fell down three times due to the impact. It felt like we were all going to die,” he told ANI.
The explosion caused multiple vehicles to catch fire in the crowded area, which lies barely a kilometre from Jama Masjid and just a few hundred metres from Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib. Visuals from the scene showed flames engulfing cars and debris scattered across the street.
Police and fire personnel rushed to the site within minutes. The Delhi Police Special Cell has cordoned off the area, while bomb disposal and forensic teams are examining the wreckage to determine the cause of the blast.
Traffic movement has been diverted from Old Delhi, and authorities have urged the public to avoid the Red Fort area as the investigation continues.