New Delhi, Nov.12,2025:The Delhi Red Fort Car Blast occurred on the evening of Monday, 10 November 2025. At approximately 6:52 pm local time, a vehicle stopped at a red light near Gate 1 of the Red Fort metro station exploded-
According to the Delhi Police commissioner, the car had previously been parked at a nearby lot and then moved slowly toward the traffic signal before detonating. The blast damaged nearby vehicles, shattered windows, and caused multiple fires in the crowded area of Old Delhi.
Authorities quickly invoked the country’s primary anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), signalling that the Delhi Red Fort Car Blast is being treated as more than a mere accident.
Scene of the blast
The explosion took place near the intersection of Netaji Subhash Marg and Lower Subhash Marg, by the bustling monument of the Red Fort and close to the metro gate used by thousands of commuters and tourists. CCTV footage shows the car approaching the signal, slowing down, and then exploding.
Emergency response teams from the Delhi Fire Service were dispatched within minutes. They reported that one or two nearby cars caught fire, and the blaze was brought under control by around 7:29 pm.
Victims, casualties and human impact
Initial reports said at least eight people had died and 20 others were injured. However, later updates raised the toll to 13 confirmed fatalities and over 20 injured.
The victims included everyday citizens — shop-workers, commuters, passers-by. Among the deceased were Mohammad Jumman, Mohsin Malik, Dinesh Mishra, Lokesh Agarwal, Ashok Kumar, Noman, Pankaj Sahni and Aman Kataria. (Names released by official list.)
Hospital wards at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital in Delhi were inundated with the injured.
The human cost of this event is profound: for the families of the deceased, the trauma of identifying loved ones in charred remains; for the survivors, the physical injuries, emotional scars and life-altering recovery ahead. Eyewitnesses spoke of horrifying scenes: “people screaming for help”, body parts strewn across roads, flames engulfing vehicles.
Immediate government and official response
Within hours, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived at the site of the blast and visited the hospital where victims were being treated. The government’s response included:
- invoking UAPA and other sections of the Explosives Act in the FIR filed by Delhi Police.
- erecting high alert across Delhi-NCR and neighbouring states.
- closure of the Red Fort area to visitors for at least three days and suspension of the metro station near the blast.
- offering ex-gratia compensation to the kin of the deceased and the injured: for example, Rs 10 lakh to families of the dead, Rs 5 lakh for those permanently disabled, and Rs 2 lakh for other injured.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while returning from a visit to Bhutan, immediately posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had visited LNJP hospital and expressed condolences:
“I went to meet those injured in the Delhi explosion at LNJP Hospital. I pray for their swift recovery. The conspirators behind this will be brought to justice.”
This public signal of urgency and accountability is intended to bolster public confidence and deter any further incidents.
The investigation
The Delhi Red Fort Car Blast investigation has rapidly escalated into a terrorism-probe. Key elements
Agencies involved
The probe has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), alongside the Delhi Police, National Security Guard (NSG), and the Forensic Science Laboratory.
Legal charges
Sections of UAPA, the Explosives Act and other relevant laws have been invoked. The FIR outlines charges of terrorism, manufacturing or carrying explosive substances, and conspiracy.
Vehicle, ownership and leads
The vehicle involved has been identified as a Hyundai i20. Investigators have traced ownership back to a dealer and previous owners; two men have been detained for questioning regarding the chain of ownership. There are indications the car was parked in a lot near Sunehri Masjid (adjacent to the Red Fort) for several hours before being driven toward the signal.
Police are exploring several possibilities: whether the explosion was accidental or deliberate; whether it was a suicide bomb; whether it was intended to inflict mass casualties or was part of a wider conspiracy. One senior official remarked, “The suspects may have panicked and made a mistake while carrying the explosives.”
Wider connections
Sources hint at links to raids in nearby Faridabad where large caches of explosives, weapons and ammunition were found days earlier. Investigators are also evaluating whether this was timed to cause maximum fear ahead of upcoming elections in certain states.
Security implications and nationwide reaction
The Delhi Red Fort Car Blast has set off ripples across India’s security and public safety architecture. Here is how
High alert and travel advisories
Several states including Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Uttarakhand have issued high-alert advisories. The UK’s Foreign Travel Advisory also cautioned its citizens regarding travel to India, flagging the blast as a trigger for elevated risk.
Public infrastructure impact
The metro station near Gate 1 of the Red Fort has been temporarily closed for security assessments. Crowded public markets, tourist zones and historic sites across Delhi are on a heightened state of vigilance. Traffic restrictions were imposed around the site.
Public psyche and urban safety
Eyewitness accounts described harrowing scenes of chaos. One witness noted:
“I heard the explosion, then people were screaming for help… Bodies were lying on the road, I saw flames everywhere.”
Such accounts amplify the sense of vulnerability among city dwellers. The blast near a celebrated heritage landmark like the Red Fort underscores how even symbolic locations are not immune.
International response
Multiple foreign missions, including the European Union’s delegation and the U.S. State Department, extended condolences and offered support. These responses reflect how the incident has resonance beyond India, impacting perceptions of urban security globally.
What it means for Delhi and India’s safety architecture
The Delhi Red Fort Car Blast is not just an isolated incident; it raises serious questions and priorities for India’s national security, urban resilience and civil readiness.
Elevated threat in crowded urban zones
The choice of location—near a traffic junction by a historical site and metro station—highlights how a relatively small device can generate large casualties in dense settings. There is a need to re-evaluate security protocols around transit hubs and heritage zones.
Coordination among agencies
The quick invocation of UAPA and takeover by NIA indicates the central government’s intent to treat the blast as a terror act. However, sustained investigations require seamless coordination between local police, central agencies and forensic labs.
Inner-city awareness and surveillance
The fact that the vehicle was parked for hours suggests potential surveillance lapses. CCTV coverage, parking lot monitoring, vehicle tracking—these become critical. As one official noted, tracing the car’s movements via CCTV helped investigators map its journey.
Public-private collaboration
With urban mobility, tourist influx, and dense markets forming the backdrop, public-private entities (metro, municipal corporations, security vendors) must collaborate for threat detection, rapid response and evacuation drills.
Political and electoral dimension
Some political voices questioned whether the timing of the attack—with major elections in nearby states pending—was purely coincidental. The intersection of security and politics is unavoidable in such cases.
probes, reforms and lessons
As the investigation deepens, several reform avenues and lessons emerge from the Delhi Red Fort Car Blast:
Forensic and intelligence scrutiny
Details such as how the explosives were procured, who financed the operation, and what communication networks were used will determine whether this was a standalone act or part of a larger scheme. Forensic labs will analyse residue, bomb-making materials, and the blast signature.
Urban preparedness enhancement
Cities must review emergency response protocols for blasts: how quickly the fire service reaches, how hospitals handle mass casualties, how traffic is diverted in the immediate aftermath. Delhi’s fire service controlled the blaze within about 40 minutes, but the casualties were already high.
Heritage-site security integration
At places like the Red Fort, heavy civilian traffic combines with tourism flows. Security design must include parking lot screening, vehicle-entry restrictions, bollards, and immediate response drills. The blast near a red-light signal underscores the vulnerability of routine traffic zones adjacent to heritage spots.
Public communication and media roles
In the age of rapid social media flow, authorities must manage accurate information, prevent panic and counter misinformation. After the blast, a photo of an unrelated Lebanese explosion was circulated falsely as the blast scene.
The invocation of UAPA signals a tougher legal posture. But ensuring justice means timely prosecution, transparent forensic findings, and equitable compensation for victims. Delhi’s announcement of ex-gratia is a necessary step.
