NEW DELHI – A powerful car explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort metro station on Monday evening killed at least nine people and injured around 20 others, plunging the national capital into chaos. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the blast and stated that authorities are investigating all possible angles in the incident. The^[1][2][3][4] explosion occurred around 7:00 PM local time at the Subhash Marg traffic signal, near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, a busy area normally bustling with people and traffic. ##^[5][3][4]# Deadly Blast Rocks Historic Area The blast originated from a slow-moving Hyundai i20 car, which then caught fire. The^[6][3][4] intensity of the explosion quickly spread flames to nearby vehicles, charring several cars, motorcycles, and auto-rickshaws. Eye^{[5][2][6][3][4]}witnesses described a scene of horror, with body parts scattered and people engulfed in flames. One^[5][2][6] local shopkeeper, Jai, 49, reported that the sound of the blast was so loud it damaged his hearing. Ano^[5]ther witness, Dharmindra Dhaga, 27, recounted seeing the car explode while moving and people on fire, as efforts were made to save them. Ho^[5]me Minister Amit Shah visited the blast site shortly after the incident and also met with the injured at LNJP Hospital. He ^[4][7][8]later confirmed that teams from the Delhi Police, National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), and forensic services (FSL) had immediately begun a thorough investigation. Sha^[9][10][7]h emphasized that all possibilities are being explored and no angle is being ruled out until forensic analysis of samples from the site is complete. ##^[3][9][7]# Investigation Underway Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act. Thi^[11][10][12]s indicates a serious criminal investigation, potentially involving terrorism. Investigators are focusing on the final movements of the Hyundai i20 car involved in the explosion. CCT^[5]V footage reportedly shows the car parked near the Red Fort for about three hours before the blast, with the driver, who appeared to be wearing a mask, remaining inside. Tw^[5]o individuals linked to the Hyundai i20 car were detained for questioning on Monday night. Pol^[1]ice are tracing the car's detailed sales history, as it reportedly changed hands multiple times. Gov^[1][4]ernment sources have indicated that the occupant of the exploding car was likely Dr. Umar, a resident of Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, who is also believed to be the final buyer of the vehicle. DNA^[11][13] samples have been collected, and forensic reports on the nature of the explosives used are still pending. Pre^[13]liminary findings by police sources suggest ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and detonators may have been used. ##^[13]# High Alert Across India Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assured that those responsible would be brought to justice. He ^[5][2][11]also reviewed the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah and other officials. In^[3][4] the wake of the explosion, a high alert has been issued across Delhi and several other Indian states, including Pune, Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Haryana. Sec^{[1][14][11][4][12]}urity has been intensified at major public locations, transport hubs, government offices, airports, railway stations, and bus terminals. Del^{[1][11][4][12]}hi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the injured in the hospital and appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid spreading rumors. The^[11][4][12] blast, a rare incident in the heavily guarded capital, has raised significant security concerns. Th^[14]e investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the exact cause of the explosion and identify all individuals involved in the deadly incident. Hom^{[5][2][14][6][10]}e Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to chair a high-level security meeting on Tuesday to further review the situation.

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