Moment i20 burst into fireball on busy Red Fort street

Red Fort blast captured on CCTV: Exact moment when Hyundai i20 bursts into fireball on busy street packed with vehicles

A devastating blast ripped through a Hyundai i20 near Delhi’s Red Fort, claiming at least 12 lives and injuring many. The explosion, occurring during peak evening traffic, engulfed several vehicles in flames. The car, parked for two hours, is linked to a Pulwama owner, with investigators exploring potential terror links and a suspect in an explosives case.

Cars crawl through traffic as commuters cross the road when, within seconds, a massive flash of fire erupts near Lal Quila Metro Station Gate No. 1. The explosion sends a towering blaze and shockwaves through the crowded stretch.

The blast occurred around 6.52 pm at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near Red Fort Metro Station. The impact was severe – at least five to six cars, four motorcycles, and three e-rickshaws caught fire in the inferno that followed.

Human body parts and debris were scattered across a 20-25 metre radius. Flames and thick smoke engulfed the area before police and fire teams brought the situation under control.

According to Delhi Police, the slow-moving car, bearing a Gurgaon registration, was parked in a nearby lot for about two hours before the blast. The current owner is identified as Tariq, from Pulwama. Investigators are also probing whether a suspect named Umar, absconding in a Faridabad explosives case, was in the vehicle.

Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said, “An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to it, nearby vehicles were also damaged. Some people died, and some were injured in the incident.” Fire officials received the first SOS call at 6.55 pm and deployed seven fire tenders to control the blaze.

The blast’s impact was felt in a 500-metre radius. Residents near Sis Ganj Gurdwara said their windows shattered, and they rushed outside to escape the fire.

Delhi Metro station near the site lies on a heavily trafficked road between Delhi Gate and Kashmere Gate, close to Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, and Old Delhi railway station. A senior officer said, “However, it is the proximity to Red Fort which may have triggered the choice of spot if the incident is confirmed to be terror-related.”