NEW DELHI — A car explosion near the historic Red Fort in New Delhi killed eight people on Monday and injured at least 19 others, police said.
The blast, which sparked a fire that damaged several parked vehicles, occurred near a gate of the Red Fort metro station, the fire services said. Authorities are investigating the cause.
Om Prakash Gupta, an eyewitness who lives nearby, said he heard a loud explosion, rushed outside with his children and saw vehicles on fire and body parts scattered. “I saw one body on the windscreen of a car,” he told The Associated Press.
A cab driver who identified himself as Shahrukh also heard the explosion and said he ran with others away from the scene.
Local media footage showed damaged vehicles and a police cordon around the area. Images from the scene showed shattered windowpanes, mangled vehicle parts and plumes of fire.
Sanjay Tyagi, a spokesman for the Delhi police, said at least eight people were killed and several others wounded. The injured are receiving treatment at a local government hospital.
Home Minister Amit Shah said a Hyundai i20 exploded near a traffic signal close to the Red Fort and that CCTV footage from the area will be used in the investigation. “We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation,” he said, adding that results will be presented to the public.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences on X, saying, “Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the blast in Delhi earlier this evening. May the injured recover at the earliest.”
The 17th-century Red Fort, a major tourist attraction about six kilometers (3.7 miles) from Parliament, is where Indian prime ministers deliver their annual Independence Day speeches on Aug. 15. The National Investigation Agency, India’s federal terror-investigating body, and other agencies are handling the probe.
