Moments after blast
NEW DELHI: At least eight people were killed and several others injured after a car explosion near gate number 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday triggered a massive fire, damaging multiple vehicles and sending shockwaves through the area.According to the Delhi fire department, the explosion led to a blaze that engulfed three to four nearby vehicles. Seven fire tenders were pressed into service to bring the situation under control. Teams from the Delhi police special cell and other security agencies also reached the spot.A high alert was sounded across the national capital following the blast.Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and disbelief as the explosion rocked the area. “Not something, I saw the flames from my house and then came down to see what had happened. There was a loud explosion. Windows were shaken with the intensity. I live nearby,” said local resident Rajdhar Pandey. Another local shopkeeper, speaking to ANI, said, “I never heard such a loud explosion ever in my life. When the blast happened I was sitting on a chair in my shop and I fell three times due to the explosion, I thought the earth was going to burst. I left the shop and ran, with me a lot of other families ran… it felt as if another blast would happen and we were all going to die.” A third eyewitness recounted the horror after the explosion. “First we saw lungs and we were taken aback and then we informed SHO that there are remains. When we saw someone’s hand on the road, we were absolutely shocked. I can’t explain it in words,” the local resident said. News agency PTI reported that multiple injured persons were rushed to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital.The medical superintendent of LNJP hospital told ANI, “Fifteen people have been brought to Lok Nayak hospital. Eight of them died before reaching the hospital. Three are seriously injured. One is in stable condition.” The cause of the explosion is yet to be confirmed. Officials said forensic teams have been deployed to examine the site, and an investigation is underway.
