Blast in slow-moving car triggers fire in several vehicles, investigation underway
At around 6:52 pm on Monday, a vehicle exploded near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station in Delhi, leaving a scene of devastation.
According to the Delhi Police, the blast occurred in a slow-moving vehicle that had stopped at a traffic signal, and the force of the explosion damaged nearby cars and auto-rickshaws.
Emergency services rushed to the scene where at least eight people have died and more than 20 others are injured.
Multiple vehicles were seen ablaze, and the fire was brought under control by about 7:29 pm, according to the Delhi Fire Service.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the site, said a thorough investigation is underway and all possibilities are being treated as open.
Meanwhile, a high-alert has been sounded in Delhi and neighbouring states including Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
At this stage, authorities have not declared the exact cause of the explosion, and forensics teams are examining the blast site, reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses.
