New Delhi: Panic gripped the area near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday after a powerful explosion shook the vicinity.

As fire and police teams rushed to the scene, terrified locals described the moment of the blast as “unlike anything they had ever experienced.”

“I never heard such a loud explosion ever in my life. I fell three times due to the impact of the blast. It felt as if we were all going to die,” a local shopkeeper told ANI, recalling the chaotic moments that followed.

Meanwhile, local resident Rajdhar Pandey told ANI, "I saw the flames from my house and then came down to see what had happened. There was a loud explosion. I live nearby.”

Eyewitnesses said the explosion, which reportedly originated from a parked car, sent shockwaves across the area, with flames engulfing nearby vehicles within seconds.

Emergency personnel have cordoned off the site. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and officials have yet to confirm reports of casualties. A high alert has been sounded in the national capital following the incident.

The anti-terror squad and Delhi Police Special Cell were on the spot to assess the situation. 

Visuals of the incident showed plumes of fire billowing from the burning cars. Panic gripped the area that was swarming with a huge crowd of people.

“I was at the gurdwara when I heard a strong sound. We couldn't make out what it was, it was that loud,” said an eyewitness. “A number of vehicles nearby were completely damaged,” he added.

Another resident said the impact was so strong that nearby shops and buildings shook. “I had come here to buy something when I heard a huge blast. The whole shop trembled,” he said. “Several people were injured, and many were being taken away from the spot soon after.”

The blast comes hours after the recovery of around 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and a cache of arms and ammunition from a Kashmiri doctor's rented accommodation in Haryana's Faridabad.