India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pledged on Tuesday that those responsible for a deadly car explosion in central Delhi, which killed at least eight people, would face justice.
The blast, which took place on Monday, marks what could be the first major security incident in India since April 22, when 26 mostly Hindu civilians were killed at a tourist site in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, sparking clashes with Pakistan.
“The country’s leading investigative agencies are conducting a swift and thorough inquiry into the incident — the findings will soon be made public,” Singh told a conference in New Delhi.
“I want to firmly assure the nation that those responsible for this tragedy will be brought to justice, and will not be spared under any circumstances,” he added.
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Investigation Underway
On Tuesday morning, crime scene investigators were combing through the wreckage of a car, hours after the explosion.
Delhi police officer Raja Banthia confirmed that the blast, which occurred near the iconic Red Fort in the crowded Old Delhi district, was being investigated under anti-terrorism laws. However, officials have yet to reveal the cause of the explosion, which also injured at least 19 others when intense flames engulfed nearby vehicles close to the 17th-century monument.
New Delhi’s deputy chief fire officer, AK Malik, confirmed the initial death toll of eight, though the Press Trust of India later reported that the number had risen to 12, a figure that has yet to be officially verified.
Home Minister Amit Shah told reporters on Monday evening that security forces were “keeping all angles open”, and emphasised that it was “very difficult to say what caused the incident” until forensic samples were analysed.
By dawn on Tuesday, AFP reporters at the scene noted that police had erected white sheets around the charred remains of vehicles, as both forensic and anti-terrorism agencies worked to collect evidence. Security was heightened across New Delhi as the investigation continued.
Condolences and Shock
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims before departing for a state visit to Bhutan. “I understand the pain of the families. The whole nation stands with them,” he said.
The Red Fort is one of India’s most famous landmarks, and its features are depicted on the country’s largest denomination banknote. Prime Ministers traditionally address the nation from its ramparts on Independence Day.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes as the car exploded in heavy traffic, engulfing people and vehicles in flames.
“I saw the car explode while it was moving,” said Dharmindra Dhaga, 27, who was at the scene.
“People were on fire and we tried to save them… Cars and people were burning — people inside the cars were burning,” he added.
“I was telling the public to save them, rescue them, and get them out. The public was busy making videos and taking photos,” Dhaga said, recalling the frantic scene.
The emergency ward at Delhi’s LNJP hospital was reportedly chaotic, as the wounded were rushed in for treatment. One woman broke down outside the ward, where her husband was being treated. “I can’t bear to see him like that,” she sobbed, as her brother tried to console her.
Rising Tensions and Historical Context
India had accused Pakistan of supporting the gunmen behind the deadly April attack in Pahalgam, a claim that Islamabad denied. That incident led to deadly clashes between the two nuclear-armed rivals in May, resulting in over 70 deaths from missile, drone, and artillery exchanges before a ceasefire was agreed upon.
The last major attack in Delhi took place in September 2011, when a bomb hidden in a briefcase exploded outside the Delhi High Court, killing at least 14 people.
As the investigation into Monday’s deadly explosion unfolds, India is on high alert, with both security and political tensions rising.