At dusk on November 10, 2025, the heart of New Delhi was rocked by a devastating car explosion near the iconic Red Fort, leaving at least eight people dead and more than twenty others injured. The blast, which occurred just before 7 p.m. local time, sent shockwaves through a city that, despite its sprawling population of over 30 million, rarely sees such violent events in its heavily guarded core.
According to Delhi City police spokesperson Sanjay Tyagi, the explosion happened when a slow-moving Hyundai i20, carrying three people, stopped at a red light near the bustling Lal Quila (Red Fort) metro station. "A slow-moving vehicle stopped at a red light. An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged," Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha told reporters, as cited by BBC and CBC. The force of the explosion set off a chain reaction, igniting at least six other vehicles and three auto-rickshaws, and engulfing the street in flames.
In the immediate aftermath, chaos reigned. Mangled bodies and charred wreckage littered the congested street, as panicked crowds fled in all directions. Suman Mishra, whose husband owns a nearby hotel, recounted to Reuters, "I was at the metro station, going down the stairs, when I heard an explosion. I turned around and saw a fire. People started running helter-skelter." Another eyewitness, interviewed by the BBC, described the surreal moment: "It felt like everything stopped for a few seconds before everyone started running in all directions." The confusion was palpable, with locals and emergency responders alike scrambling to help the injured and contain the blaze.
Emergency crews responded in force, with 30 to 40 ambulances converging on the scene and firefighting teams working swiftly to douse the flames. The entire area was quickly cordoned off, with a heavy security presence from the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad, the National Security Guard, and the Central Reserve Police Force. Armed officers moved through the area, securing the scene and searching for clues as federal and state investigative agencies began their work.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick to express his condolences, posting on X (formerly Twitter), "May the injured recover at the earliest. Those affected are being assisted by authorities." Modi also confirmed that he had reviewed the situation with federal Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior officials. Shah himself visited the explosion site and a nearby hospital, assuring the public that a thorough investigation was underway. "We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all possibilities into account. All options will be investigated immediately and we will present the results to the public," Shah stated, according to the BBC.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi echoed the nation's grief, describing the incident as "extremely heartbreaking." The tragedy united political leaders across the spectrum in calls for swift action and support for the victims. A high-level meeting involving senior officials was scheduled for the following morning, November 11, to coordinate the ongoing response and investigation.
The explosion has cast a shadow over one of Delhi's most treasured landmarks. The Red Fort, a sprawling, 17th-century Mughal fortress, is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also a symbol of India's national identity. Every year on August 15, the prime minister addresses the nation from its ramparts, making the area a focal point for both locals and tourists. The fort's proximity to the blast site has heightened concerns about security at major cultural and historical sites throughout the region.
Authorities wasted no time bolstering security measures. Mumbai, India's financial capital, and the populous neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh were both placed on high alert. According to senior police official Amitabh Yash, security was stepped up at "sensitive religious sites, vulnerable districts and border areas"—a precautionary move given Uttar Pradesh's status as home to the Taj Mahal and other high-profile landmarks. The streets of Old Delhi, already dense and teeming with life, became scenes of heightened vigilance as police and security forces fanned out to reassure a rattled public.
For many in Delhi, the explosion stirred painful memories of past attacks. The city endured a series of blasts in the 1980s and 1990s, with public places such as bus stations and crowded markets targeted in incidents attributed to Islamist militants and separatists from the northern state of Punjab. The last major attack in the city occurred in 2011, when a briefcase bomb outside the Delhi High Court killed about a dozen people. Since then, Delhi has largely avoided such violence, making Monday's explosion all the more shocking for residents and officials alike.
Eyewitness accounts painted a harrowing picture. Veeru Sindhi, a local businessman present at the scene, told the BBC, "I am fully shaken by what I have seen. We tried to rescue people who were trapped inside the vehicles." The sense of disarray was compounded by the sheer number of emergency vehicles, the presence of armed officers, and the crowds of onlookers who gathered despite police efforts to clear the area.
Investigators from the National Security Guard and National Investigation Agency, along with forensic experts, descended on the site to sift through debris and gather evidence. The cause of the explosion remains under intense scrutiny, with officials "exploring all possibilities"—from mechanical failure to deliberate attack. As Sanjay Tyagi emphasized to the BBC, "Police are investigating the cause of the explosion and exploring all possibilities." The federal home ministry has pledged to keep the public informed as more information becomes available.
The human toll, however, is already clear. Families are mourning the loss of loved ones, while survivors face a long road to recovery. The injured are receiving treatment in local hospitals, and authorities have promised every possible assistance. The Red Fort area, usually abuzz with tourists and locals alike, now bears the scars of tragedy—a stark reminder of the fragility of daily life in even the most familiar of places.
As Delhi grapples with the aftermath, the city’s resilience is once again being put to the test. The investigation continues, and the hope is that answers—and justice—will follow soon. For those who witnessed the horror firsthand, the memory of that November evening will not fade quickly. But amid the grief and uncertainty, the determination to recover and rebuild remains unshaken.
