Eight people were killed and 24 injured after a high-intensity explosion ripped through a car this evening, one of India’s most high-profile areas. The blast took place around 7 pm near Chandni Chowk Metro Station, leaving mangled bodies and wrecked cars scattered in the area. “It was a very powerful explosion,” said sources in the Delhi Police.
Mumbai, Jaipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are on high alert after the blast.
Visuals showed a van with its doors blown off, a completely mangled car, another with a smashed windscreen and crumpled bodies on the ground. “A call was received regarding an explosion in a car near Gate number 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station,” the Delhi Fire Department said .
“We got information that there was a blast in a car near Chandni Chowk Metro Station. We responded immediately, and seven units were sent to the spot. At 7:29 PM, the fire was brought under control,” said Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik.
Around 20 fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and the police have cordoned off the entire area, which sees heavy tourist traffic all year.The nature of the blast is not known yet.
The Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, is located in the congested Old Delhi area of the national capital. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi.As per eyewitnesses, the blast occurred in a Swift Dzire car.
Zeeshan, an auto driver who got injured due to the blast, said, “The car in front of me was about two feet away. I don’t know whether there was a bomb in it or something else, but it exploded. It was a Swift Dzire car.”
“I saw a huge fireball from the terrace of my house. There was a huge sound. The blast shook the windows of the buildings,” said a witness.“I was at the gurdwara when I heard a strong sound. We couldn’t make out what it was; it was that loud,” said another.
The blast took place on a day a massive haul of 2,900 kg of explosives was found just 50 km away, in neighbouring Faridabad in Haryana. It’s also a day before the second round of polling in Bihar.( News Copied From NDTV ndtv.com)