Red Fort Blast: CCTV Captures i20 Driver Before Deadly Explosion; Red Fort Closed for Three Days

New Delhi, November 11:
A powerful explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi on Monday evening has left at least eight people dead and more than 20 injured, sending shockwaves through the capital. The blast occurred in a white Hyundai i20 car near the Netaji Subhash Marg traffic signal, just a short distance from the Red Fort metro station, around 6:52 PM.

According to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, “At around 6.52 PM, a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light near Red Fort. An explosion happened in that vehicle, damaging nearby cars and injuring several pedestrians.”

The explosion’s intensity shattered nearby shop windows and caused tremors felt across the bustling Old Delhi area. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with flames engulfing the vehicle moments after the blast.

CCTV Footage Shows i20’s Final Movements

Investigators tracking the car’s movements through CCTV footage said the Hyundai i20, carrying three occupants, was first seen driving from Daryaganj Market towards the Sunehri Masjid parking lot near the Red Fort around 4 PM.
The vehicle remained parked there for nearly two hours before leaving the area, taking a U-turn near Old Delhi Railway Station, and heading toward Lower Subhash Marg — moments before it exploded.

The car bore a Haryana registration number (HR26CE7674) and had changed ownership multiple times in recent months. Police have detained two men believed to be previous owners as part of the ongoing investigation.

Multi-Agency Investigation Underway

Home Minister Amit Shah, in a late-night statement, confirmed that the blast occurred in a Hyundai i20 car and that all investigative angles are being pursued.

“Teams from the Delhi Police, National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), and forensic experts are probing the case from every possible angle,” Shah said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shah have both been briefed on the situation and are monitoring developments closely. A high-level security meeting, chaired by Shah, is scheduled for Tuesday morning to assess the progress of the probe.

Security Heightened, Red Fort Closed

In the wake of the explosion, authorities have closed the Red Fort to visitors for the next three days. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has also shut the Lal Quila Metro Station for today as a precautionary measure.
Security has been stepped up at sensitive locations, including metro stations, airports, and government offices, with additional CISF and Delhi Police personnel deployed across the capital.

The Delhi Fire Department said they received multiple calls around 6:55 PM about a car fire near Red Fort. Seven fire tenders were dispatched to the scene to control the blaze.

As forensic teams continue to examine the car’s remains and gather samples from the blast site, authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation and allow investigators to complete their work.