New Delhi: At least eight people have reportedly been killed after a massive fire engulfed several vehicles near New Delhi’s historic Red Fort on Monday evening. According to reports, the blaze followed a blast near a metro station in Old Delhi.

A massive explosion near Gate Number 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station in Delhi on Monday evening has left multiple people dead and several others injured. The incident, which occurred around 6:52 pm, set off a fire that engulfed several vehicles in the area. Eight died before reaching LNJP Hospital, three seriously injured, says Medical Superintendent

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed the casualties, saying, “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.”

The explosion triggered panic in the densely crowded area near Lal Qila, where bystanders reported scenes of chaos and destruction. Eyewitnesses described the horror of the moment, with one saying, “There was a very loud blast, and bodies are scattered everywhere... We don’t know what is happening — there were 4–5 cars on fire.”

The cause of the explosion remains unclear, and investigations are underway. The Indian Fire Department confirmed that around eight to ten vehicles caught fire, while ambulances rushed several injured victims to nearby hospitals. The area has been cordoned off under heavy police presence as forensic teams and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) assess the site. According to reports, at least eight people have died in the incident, and several others remain hospitalised with serious injuries.

The Delhi Fire Department, the blast led to a major fire that spread to three or four vehicles parked nearby. Ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot to bring the blaze under control. The Delhi Police Special Cell and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are jointly investigating the cause of the explosion, which remains under scrutiny.

Authorities have placed the entire Delhi region on high alert as a precautionary measure. Emergency teams and forensic experts are combing through the debris to determine the source and nature of the blast.

Officials have yet to confirm whether the explosion was accidental or deliberate, as the investigation continues.