Delhi Car Blast: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken stock of the situation after a blast in a car near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station in Delhi claimed at least eight lives and left 16 injured.
A call about the blast was received around 6:55 pm, prompting fire services and probe agencies to rush to the spot. A team from the anti-terror agency NIA arrived later at the incident site after intelligence sources confirmed this to be a terror-related case.
Government sources told CNN-News18 that the Prime Minister spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought a detailed update on the incident and the ongoing investigation.
Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital stated that 24 people were brought in severe condition, of which eight were declared dead. The remaining 16 people are undergoing treatment.
The Delhi Police nabbed one suspect in the blast incident, sources said, adding that a multi-agency investigation has been launched.
“Today at around 6.52 pm, a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light. An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged. All agencies, FSL, NIA, are here… Some people have died, and some have been injured in the incident. The situation is being monitored. The Home Minister has also called us, and information is being shared with him from time to time,” said Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha.
Amit Shah In Touch With Delhi Police, IB
Sources said that Amit Shah spoke with the Delhi Police Commissioner soon after the explosion and directed immediate action at the site.
Teams from the National Security Guard (NSG), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the forensic department were swiftly deployed to assist in the probe.
Sources said Shah is in constant communication with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director and is closely monitoring the situation in Delhi.
The exact cause of the explosion, which triggered panic in the area, is yet to be determined. However, intelligence sources suggest that the blast was triggered using an IED. An offical confirmation is awaited.
The incident occurred just hours after police uncovered an interstate terror module allegedly linked to banned organisations and seized more than 2,900 kilograms of suspected ammonium nitrate.
This included 360 kg recovered earlier and an additional 2,500 kg of the explosive substance.
Several states and cities, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, and Mumbai, have been put on high alert with heightened security arrangements after the blast incident in Delhi.
