The explosion at the Red Fort area ripped through one of Delhi’s busiest stretches and left a scene of horrific destruction. First responders arriving at the site encountered a grim tableau: a man’s body suspended from a tree, apparently hurled there by the blast’s immense force. Streetlights were shattered, vehicles were set alight, and debris littered the road around the metro station entrance.
The detonation occurred near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening and produced a shock that witnesses described as earth-shattering. Survivors and passersby recounted moments of sheer terror as the ground trembled, flames spread to parked cars, and smoke and dust filled the air. The intensity of the explosion left many fearing further blasts and spurred a chaotic scramble for safety.
Eyewitnesses told reporters they fell repeatedly while running to escape the scene as the blast wave knocked people off their feet. One survivor said the force felt as if the ground had caved in beneath them and that they were convinced they would not survive. Others described scenes of people tripping and tumbling over one another amid the panic.
Authorities later detained several men linked to the ownership history of the Hyundai i20 that exploded, noting the vehicle had exchanged hands multiple times. Investigators identified the occupant of the car as Dr. Umar, whom security agencies believe had ties to the terror module recently disrupted in Faridabad. Sources say Dr. Umar may have acted in a state of panic following the arrests of associates connected to that probe.
The blast came on the same day that Haryana police and allied agencies uncovered a large cache of arms and explosive materials in Faridabad, including approximately 2,900 kg of components used to manufacture IEDs. Officials linked the seizure to a broader terror module allegedly involving groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. The timing of the cache recovery and the Red Fort explosion has sharpened investigative focus on possible connections.
Preliminary forensic analysis suggested the device was likely used ANFO — an ammonium nitrate-fuel oil mixture commonly exploited in improvised explosive devices because of its high combustibility. Investigators are piecing together forensic evidence, vehicle ownership records, mobile and digital links, and witness statements to reconstruct the sequence of events and establish culpability.
The attack prompted immediate tightening of security across the national capital and intensified counterterror operations. Police and intelligence agencies continue to canvass leads, interrogate suspects, and examine surveillance footage as they work to determine whether the blast was a lone act of desperation or part of a wider, organised conspiracy.
