Prime Minister Narendra Modi spokes to Home Minister Amit Shah and took stock of the situation
NEW DELHI –– At least nine people are reportedly dead and over 20 injured in a high-intensity blast that ripped through a car parked near the Red Fort on Monday evening, November 10, leaving multiple vehicles in flames and shattering window panes.
The injured were taken to Lok Nayak hospital, two kilometres away from the site of explosion.
Minutes after the explosion, that has sent panic across the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah and received an update on the situation.
Similarly, sources add that Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha and also to Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka.
The Union Home Minister also spoke to NIA DG Sadanand Vasant Date and has advised him to send an NIA team to the spot.
The nature of the explosion is not known yet. A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached the spot. A high alert has been sounded in Delhi.
Blast occurred in slow-moving car: Delhi Police chief
Talking to reporters at the blast site, Delhi Police commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed multiple deaths and injuries. “There was a blast around 6.52 pm in a slow-moving vehicle near Red Fort. There were passengers inside the vehicle,” the officer said, adding, other vehicles were damaged in the incident.
“Some deaths happened, few people got injured. The situation is being regularly monitored. The home minister is being regularly briefed,” he said.
Police sounded a high alert in Delhi. Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot with police cordoning off the area, the Delhi Fire Services said.
The blast was so powerful that it shattered the windows of vehicles parked several metres away and was heard in nearby buildings of the congested area.
“The blast occurred in a car parked near the Red Fort metro station gate number 1. The intensity was quite high. Injuries are feared,” said a senior official of the Delhi Fire Service.
Panic gripped the area as several vehicles were seen damaged at the spot following the loud explosion.
“I was at the gurdwara when I heard a strong sound. We couldn’t make out what it was; it was that loud,” said an eyewitness. “A number of vehicles nearby were completely damaged,” he added.
Another resident said the impact was so strong that nearby shops and buildings shook. “I had come here to buy something when I heard a huge blast. The whole shop trembled,” he said. “Several people were injured, and many were being taken away from the spot soon after.”
A high alert has been issued in Maharashtra and a “precautionary alert” for Mumbai following the blast. “All the unit commanders at the district level in Maharashtra and commissioners of cities have been instructed to remain alert to avoid any untoward incidents”, a police official said.
Police are maintaining a strong vigil and stepped up security at important places and vital installations in the state and Mumbai, the official said.
Rajasthan Police also sounded an alert to maintain heightened vigilance across the state following an explosion outside the Red Fort in Delhi. — PTI, IANS
