A routine traffic stop at a red light turned into a deadly inferno in Delhi, killing eight people and injuring 19. The incident occurred on Monday night when a car, stopped at a light outside the Red Fort metro station, suddenly exploded. The blast set off a chain reaction of fire and destruction in the crowded Old Delhi area.
Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed the sequence of events. “An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged,” he stated. More than a dozen other vehicles, including cars, rickshaws, and motorcycles, were caught in the resulting fire and were left as blackened, mangled wrecks.
The aftermath was a scene of chaos and horror, as described by witnesses. A cab driver named Shahrukh said he heard the loud blast, got out of his car, and “started running along with others.” Another resident, Om Prakash Gupta, ran from his home to find “body parts all over” and multiple vehicles ablaze, including a body he saw on the windscreen of a car.
The federal government is leading the investigation. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the scene and stated that the cause is not yet clear, pending forensic analysis. He assured that the probe would be comprehensive, stating, “We do not consider any angle closed.” The registered owner of the car that exploded has reportedly been detained for questioning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims’ families on social media. As the investigation gets underway, a high alert has been issued for major transportation hubs and the cities of Mumbai and the state of Uttar Pradesh, reflecting the seriousness of the incident.