A high-intensity explosion ripped through a parked car near the Red Fort in New Delhi on Monday evening, killing at least eight people, Indian media outlets reported. Several others sustained injuries.
The blast has triggered panic in one of Delhi’s most crowded zones and left several vehicles on fire. The exact extent of the damage and the final death toll is yet to be ascertained.
The blast occurred near Red Fort Metro station, prompting police to immediately sound a citywide high alert, National Herald reported.
Seven fire tenders rushed to the site as emergency teams cordoned off the stretch and began clearing the area, authorizes said. Visuals showed towering flames rising from at least one car and smoke enveloping several damaged vehicles.
Eyewitnesses described a moment of chaos as the blast ripped through the tightly packed neighborhood. “I was at the gurdwara when I heard a strong sound. It was so loud that we couldn’t make out what had happened,” said one local resident. “Several vehicles nearby were completely damaged,” he added.
Police and forensic teams are examining the site to determine the cause of the explosion, local media news reports said.
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