At least 10 people lost their lives in a car explosion that occurred near a metro station close to the iconic Red Fort monument in India’s capital region, Delhi, on Monday, a hospital official confirmed.
According to Dr. Manish Kumar Jha of Lok Nayak Hospital, more than 30 others sustained severe injuries.
“Many are not in a position of recovering,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
Police have commenced an investigation to determine the cause of the blast, which remains unclear.
Before the incident, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said the “slow-moving” vehicle had “come to a stop” near a traffic light at about 6:42 p.m. local time (5:42 a.m. ET). “An explosion occurred in that vehicle. The passengers in the vehicle and people in surrounding vehicles were impacted,” he explained.
Reuters, citing Delhi’s deputy fire chief, reported that at least six cars and three autorickshaws caught fire in the blast.
Emergency responders arrived promptly after receiving a distress call at 6:55 p.m. local time (5:55 a.m. ET) and managed to put out the fire, according to Sumit Kumar of Delhi Fire Services.
Survivors were immediately transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, announced plans to visit the scene, saying authorities will review footage from surveillance cameras around the blast site.
“We are investigating the explosion from every angle,” Commissioner Golcha stated. “The situation is being regularly monitored.”
Following the explosion, airports, railway stations, government offices, and heritage sites across India were placed on high alert by the Central Industrial Security Force.
Footage circulating online showed motorcyclists and bystanders rushing toward the site, where massive orange flames lit up the night sky. Residents nearby said they heard a deafening noise that shook their homes.
“We heard a big sound. Our windows shook,” one resident told Indian broadcaster NDTV, according to Reuters.
Another local, Rajdhar Pandey, told CNN affiliate CNN News-18, “There was a loud explosion. I live nearby.”
The Red Fort, known locally as the Lal Qila, is a 17th-century Mughal-era fortress situated in Old Delhi and remains one of the country’s most visited historic landmarks.
