Delhi placed on high alert after explosion near Red Fort metro station; multiple casualties feared
At least one person, however, has been confirmed dead, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.
“The blast occurred in a car parked near Red Fort metro station gate number 1. The intensity was quite high. Injuries are feared,” said a senior official of Delhi Fire Service was quoted as saying.
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The Fire Department said a call about the explosion was received in the evening. “The call was about an explosion in a car near Gate No. 1 of Red Fort Metro Station, following which three to four vehicles caught fire,” ANI quoted a fire department official as saying.
Also read: Car explodes near Red Fort Metro Station, at least one dead; high alert sounded in Delhi
Seven fire tenders were rushed to the site to douse the flames, while teams from the Delhi Police Special Cell and other security agencies reached the area soon after. The explosion caused panic near the busy metro station, which lies close to the Red Fort and several government installations.
Officials on the ground said several vehicles were engulfed in flames immediately after the blast. Firefighters managed to contain the fire before it could spread to the metro entrance or nearby shops.
The police have cordoned off the area, and forensic experts are examining the site to ascertain the cause of the explosion. Preliminary findings indicate that the blast occurred in a parked vehicle, setting off a chain reaction that damaged nearby cars.
Authorities have not ruled out any angle and are probing all possibilities. Security has been stepped up across Delhi, with a red alert issued in the capital following the incident.
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