On the evening of 10 November 2025, Delhi, a city that has endured centuries of turbulence yet always stood resilient, was jolted again. A car explosion near the historic Red Fort, one of India’s most iconic landmarks, shattered the humdrum rhythm of the capital. In a split second, the busy Subhash Marg outside Red Fort Metro Station turned into a chaotic scene of fire, screams, and sirens. This wasn’t just another tragic incident, it was a stark reminder that even the most secure and symbolic spaces remain vulnerable. As investigators sift through the debris, India asks: what exactly happened, and why? This article brings together every known detail, from eyewitness accounts and investigation leads to government response and public impact, piecing together the story of the Delhi Red Fort bomb blast as it unfolds.
The Moment It Happened
It was around 6:52 pm on Monday when a Hyundai i20 car stopped at a traffic light near the Red Fort Metro station on Subhash Marg, a bustling artery connecting old Delhi with modern parts of the city.
Witnesses recall seeing the car idle briefly before a massive explosion ripped through the evening calm. The blast was so intense that nearby windows shattered, several vehicles caught fire, and flames leapt into the twilight sky.
“The sound was deafening. Within seconds, the car turned into a fireball. People were running, shouting, trying to drag the injured out,” said Rafiq Ahmed, a shopkeeper from Chandni Chowk.
According to the Delhi Fire Service, seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot as smoke engulfed the area. Within minutes, videos of the burning vehicles surfaced online, showing a line of cars and e-rickshaws reduced to twisted metal.
Authorities confirmed that six cars, two e-rickshaws, and one autorickshaw were gutted in the inferno. The epicentre was the Hyundai i20, the presumed source of the explosion.
Immediate Aftermath
The explosion created instant panic. Tourists visiting the Red Fort fled the scene; commuters inside the metro were evacuated. The entire area was sealed off within ten minutes, with Delhi Police, the National Security Guard (NSG), and forensic teams arriving rapidly.
Hospitals like Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) and Aruna Asaf Ali began receiving casualties. Initial reports suggested eight deaths and about 20 injuries, but by midnight, the toll had risen to 13 confirmed dead, with several victims critically injured.
Doctors at LNJP reported severe burn injuries, multiple trauma cases, and several victims “beyond recognition.” Identification of the deceased proved challenging, with forensic samples being collected for DNA matching.
Home Minister Amit Shah visited LNJP that night, meeting families of the victims. His statement reflected the mood of the nation:
“This is not merely an accident. Every possibility — including terrorism — is being examined. The culprits will not be spared.”
Early Investigation
By 9 pm, Delhi Police’s Special Cell and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had cordoned off the site. Evidence teams began collecting fragments of metal, burnt debris, and what appeared to be residue from ammonium nitrate, a common component in improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Investigators soon identified the car’s registration number: HR 26 CE 7674, registered in Gurugram, Haryana. The car had reportedly entered Old Delhi earlier in the afternoon and was parked intermittently near the metro area before the explosion. CCTV footage showed a man wearing a cap and face mask leaving the vehicle minutes before the blast.
Though the exact sequence remains under examination, initial findings suggest that the explosion was caused by a remote-triggered or timed device, rather than a fuel-tank fire or electrical fault.
By midnight, officials had invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), confirming that the case was being treated as a possible terrorist act.
A Wider Conspiracy? Links To Faridabad Raid
Just hours before the Red Fort explosion, Haryana Police and central agencies had conducted a raid in Faridabad, seizing a cache of explosives and rifles from an apartment complex. The suspects reportedly connected to a pan-India terror module were under surveillance for several weeks.
Forensic experts now believe that materials recovered in Faridabad were chemically similar to residues found at the Delhi blast site. This connection has led investigators to suspect that the Red Fort incident may be part of a coordinated terror plan.
A senior NIA officer told the media:
“The pattern, the choice of location, and the timing all point to a symbolic strike meant to shake public confidence. Red Fort isn’t just a monument; it’s a message.”
Delhi Police also stated that three suspects, including one identified as “Umar” are being traced through CCTV and call-data analysis. The car owner is being located, though officials suspect the vehicle may have been stolen and fitted with fake plates.
The Symbolism Of Red Fort
Why Red Fort? That’s the question echoing through both media channels and the public conscience.
The Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is not merely an architectural marvel, it is a national symbol. From its ramparts, every Independence Day, the Prime Minister addresses the nation. It stands as a reminder of India’s sovereignty, resilience, and struggle for freedom.
A blast in its vicinity is not just an act of violence, it’s an assault on national identity. The choice of target seems deliberate: a high-visibility, emotionally charged location at a time when evening crowds ensure maximum attention.
As political analyst Partha Mukherjee noted on NDTV:
“Terror groups often target symbols of power. The Red Fort embodies India’s democratic strength. A strike here sends a chilling psychological message.”
Government & Security Response
Within hours, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced a multi-agency probe involving the NIA, Delhi Police, Intelligence Bureau, and NSG’s bomb-disposal unit.
The Delhi government declared an ex gratia payment for victims’ families and ordered a high-alert status across the city. Metro stations, airports, and major monuments were subjected to enhanced screening.
Across India, cities like Mumbai, Varanasi, and Jaipur increased security deployments. The Uttar Pradesh Police issued preventive detentions under the Goonda Act and began intensive vehicle checks at Delhi’s border points.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident a “cowardly attempt to destabilise peace” and vowed “swift, decisive action.” The opposition, meanwhile, questioned intelligence lapses, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeting:
“Our hearts go out to victims. But how did a car laden with explosives reach one of the most secure zones of Delhi? Accountability must follow compassion.”
The Human Cost
Behind every headline are the silent tragedies of ordinary lives. Among the identified victims was Vijay Gupta, a 32-year-old cab driver who had stopped at the red light moments before the explosion. Another was Parveen Begum, a fruit vendor known to locals for her candied amla cart near the metro gate.
Eyewitnesses recounted how passers-by became rescuers. Several people braved the flames to pull out victims from burning vehicles before fire engines arrived. One of them, a delivery executive named Rahul Kumar, sustained burn injuries but managed to save two lives.
“I didn’t think twice. I saw a man trapped inside a rickshaw. I broke the glass and dragged him out,” he told reporters, his hands bandaged.
Social media turned into a digital memorial overnight. Photos of missing people circulated widely as volunteers lined up at LNJP to donate blood.
For a city that has seen serial bombings in 2005 and 2011, the Red Fort blast reopened wounds that never truly healed.
What Investigators Are Probing
As of 11 November 2025, several key questions remain unanswered:
- Was it a suicide bombing or a remote detonation?
Officials lean toward a remotely triggered explosion, as no human remains matching the driver’s profile were found inside the car. - Who orchestrated it?
Leads suggest involvement of an organised module with prior logistics in Delhi–NCR. Intelligence agencies are scanning encrypted chat apps and SIM cards from neighbouring states. - Where did the explosives come from?
Forensic labs in Chandigarh and Hyderabad are analysing traces of ammonium nitrate, RDX, and petrol accelerants. - Why Red Fort, and why now?
Some analysts speculate that the attack was timed ahead of Republic Day security drills meant as a “test” of urban preparedness.
The NIA, meanwhile, has formed five teams: forensic analysis, digital intelligence, vehicle trail, financial tracking, and inter-state coordination.
A central official stated that “the pattern resembles modules neutralised in 2021–22 that had Pakistan-based handlers.” While no group has claimed responsibility yet, agencies are not ruling out cross-border coordination.
Life Around The Fort: Fear And Resilience
The following morning, the lanes around Lal Qila wore an eerie silence. Burnt vehicles were towed away, but the smell of smoke lingered. Shop shutters remained down; the metro station was temporarily closed.
Yet, by evening, chai stalls reopened, buses resumed, and traffic crept back. Delhi, ever restless, refused to stand still.
“I was scared to even open the shop,” said a silverware merchant near Chatta Chowk. “But if we close down, they win.”
Tourists have been advised to avoid the immediate area for now, but the Archaeological Survey of India confirmed that the Red Fort itself sustained no structural damage.
Broader Security Concerns
Experts say the Red Fort blast underscores gaps in urban surveillance. Despite Delhi’s network of over 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras, many older areas still have blind spots or poor maintenance.
Moreover, car-borne IEDs remain one of the hardest threats to detect in crowded traffic environments. While entry restrictions exist near monuments, adjacent public roads often remain accessible.
Post-blast, the Home Ministry has directed the Delhi Police to review all “heritage-zone perimeters”, including India Gate, Jama Masjid, and Rajghat.
The incident also revives discussions around vehicle scanning technology and better coordination between civic and intelligence agencies.
National And International Reactions
Condolences poured in from across the world. The US State Department, UK Foreign Office, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack, calling it “a reminder of the shared global fight against terror.”
Neighbouring nations including Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh expressed solidarity, while Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement “denying any involvement.”
International news agencies like Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera carried live updates, underscoring the global concern over India’s urban security infrastructure.
The Road Ahead
Even as forensic teams piece together evidence, Delhi is on edge. Schools in central districts have been asked to follow security protocols. The Red Fort metro station remains temporarily closed pending NIA clearance.
The bigger question, one Delhi has faced before, is whether lessons will be learned this time. Terror incidents often trigger immediate responses but fade from policy memory over months. Experts urge sustained vigilance rather than reactive policing.
“The challenge,” says former RAW officer Vikram Sood, “is to balance heritage, tourism, and hard security. The enemy exploits our openness.”
For now, Delhi mourns but endures. The tricolour still flies above the Red Fort — smoke has cleared, but the questions linger.
The Red Fort blast is more than a tragedy, it’s a wake-up call. It exposes how even the most guarded spaces can be breached, how ordinary evenings can become scenes of devastation, and how deeply India’s fight against terror still runs.
Red Fort Delhi Blast (10 Nov 2025) – What Happened, Investigation & Impact
As the investigation unfolds, the focus must remain not only on punishing the guilty but also on strengthening the systems meant to protect the innocent. Delhi has wept before and risen again, it will this time too.
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But amid the ashes and unanswered questions, one truth echoes loudest: the cost of vigilance may be high, but the cost of complacency is far higher.
FAQs
Q1. When did the Red Fort blast occur?
The explosion happened on the evening of 10 November 2025, around 6:52 pm, near Gate 1 of the Red Fort Metro station in Old Delhi.
Q2. How many casualties have been reported so far?
As per official reports, 13 people died and over 20 were injured, many with severe burns.
Q3. What kind of car was involved?
A Hyundai i20 bearing Haryana registration number HR 26 CE 7674 was the source of the blast.
Q4. Is it confirmed to be a terrorist attack?
The case has been registered under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), indicating it is being treated as a possible terror strike.
Q5. Are there any suspects or arrests?
Investigators are pursuing leads involving a suspect named Umar and possible links to a terror module busted in Faridabad earlier the same day. No official arrests have been confirmed yet.
