Delhi Car Blast LIVE UPDATES: NIA Takes Over Delhi Car Blast Case, Probe On

According to the Delhi Fire Department, they received a call about the explosion at around 6:55 pm, after which seven fire tenders and 15 CAT ambulances were rushed to the spot. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after a short operation

Preliminary reports suggest that some people sustained injuries in the incident. The exact cause of the blast is yet to be determined.

Forensic teams are examining the scene, while police have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to rule out foul play.

PM Narendra Modi has taken stock of the situation in the wake of the blast in Delhi, government sources tell Indian Express.

Modi has also spoken to Home Minister Amit Shah and taken an update on the situation, the sources said

The Noida Police is conducting foot patrolling in Sector-62 and other crowded places in the vicinity and under the jurisdiction of Noida’s Sector-58 Police station.

The station in-charge has been directed to erect barricades and stop suspicious-looking vehicles and check them thoroughly.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha has said that a car slowed as the traffic light had turned red and that’s when the explosion took place. Watch his full statement

Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has called the deaths in the Red Fort blast "extremely tragic".

He said: "The news of the explosion near the Red Fort is extremely alarming. It is reported that some people have also lost their lives in it, which is extremely tragic."

Security personnel are checking all vehicles passing the Delhi-Noida border.

This comes after a blast rocked the area outside Gate No 1 of Delhi Metro’s Lal Quila Station, killing at least 8 people.

The neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh is now in a state of alert after a blast near Gate no 1 of the Red Fort Metro station.

Uttar Pradesh ADG Law and Order Amitabh Yash told ANI that the DGP has issued instructions to all senior officials.

Uttar Pradesh security apparatus is focussing on increasing security at

1. sensitive religious sites

2. sensitive districts

3. border areas

All security agencies have also been alerted, UP ADG said.

“Police in all districts of Uttar Pradesh have been put on alert. An order was issued from Lucknow to increase patrols and checks in sensitive areas,” he added.

The Haryana government has issued an alert across the state following the incident in New Delhi. The government has directed all district authorities to exercise caution, particularly in districts bordering Delhi. Special vigilance has been advised at crowded public places and historical sites.

The Indian National Congress has made an appeal to Delhi residents to maintain peace and urged the administration to ensure everyone’s safety.

Tap to read the full statement

Home Minister Amit Shah says NIA, NSG and FSl teams are doing deep inspections.

CCTVs are being inspected.

We are keeping all possibilities in mind. The findings will be shared with the public.

Shah says he will visit the site and the hospital where the injured have been taken.

Bihar has been put on a state of high-alert following an explosion near Red Fort in Delhi where at least eight people lost their lives.

Sanjay Bhargava, President of Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal said that his shop is located around 600 m from the spot of the blast but the whole building shook when the blast occurred.

“I was at the shop, initially we thought that a terrace had collapsed as the sound was so loud. But soon the employees saw huge flames from a distance, and people started running. It is fortunate that this incident did not happen on the weekend because if it would have happened, a stampede would have occurred due to such high and unregulated footfall and huge traffic. Every inch of the Chandni Chowk is occupied by hawkers. I have already sent request to the Joint CP, CP and Additional DCP but nobody took care of it. There are thousands of e-rickshaws operating here as well as,” he said.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials arrive at the spot after the blast near Gate no 1 of the Red Fort Metro station in Delhi.

Haryana is now on an alert after Delhi blast.

OP Singh, DGP, Haryana asked people to report “any suspicious person or unclaimed object” to 112.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered condolences to the deceased in the Delhi blast case.

Modi said he has reviewed the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah and other officials.

Forensic investigation teams are at the blast site.

Between charred remains of vehicles and with a heavy police presence in the background, these officers are looking for taking stock of the situation and looking for any clues.

The source of the blast is still not known.

On Delhi blast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "A blast took place in a Hyundai i20 car near the Red Fort in Delhi today at around 7 pm. Due to the blast, 3-4 vehicles were damaged, and people also got injured, and some died. As per Hospital sources, eight people have died so far. Some of the injured are being treated here. We have launched a thorough investigation, keeping all angles open. As soon as the blast was reported, the Delhi Police Special Cell, Crime Branch, NIA team, SPG team, and FSL team arrived at the scene and are conducting all investigations expeditiously. I hope our agencies will reach a conclusion on the cause of the blast within a short time, and the senior-most FSL team has also arrived. I received a call from the Prime Minister immediately after receiving the news of the blast. After taking the preliminary information, I also briefed the Prime Minister. I am leaving from here to visit the site, and tomorrow morning, a meeting will be conducted with a team of senior officials at the Home Ministry to investigate the details..."

Delhi blast: When asked if it was a terrorist attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "We are keeping all angles open and investigating from all angles. It is very difficult to say what caused the incident. Until the samples recovered from the blast site are analysed by FSL and NSG, it is difficult to say anything about it. However, we do not consider any angle closed. We will investigate all angles with determination."

A 35-year-old Amar Kataria was coming from his pharmacy in Chandni Chowk market and was boarding metro from gate number 1 of Red Fort when the blast happened.

He developed head injuries. His nephew Parth got a call from a stranger who brought him to the hospital and informed his family members, reports Ankita Updhyay.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has termed the car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station “extremely heartbreaking and concerning”.

He said the “report of the deaths of several innocent people in this tragic incident is profoundly sorrowful”.

Full statement

22-year-old Sameer Khan, an autorickshaw driver has severe burn injuries.

He was at Red Fort waiting for passengers. His brother Intezar tells my colleague Ankita Upadhyay that Sameer was driving all day and waited at Red Fort for some time when the blast happened.

“He did not even have a phone but he got someone and who called me and asked me to reach the Hospital,” says Intezar. Restricted entry outside emergency ward of Lok Nahak hospital. The family members are not being allowed to go inside and meet the family members.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has called the blast near the Red Fort “extremely distressing and alarming”.

She expressed “deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. I pray to God that the injured recover swiftly”.

Read her full statement

Two bodies came without head and arms and have not been identified, sources are telling my colleague Ankita Upadhyay.

Eight bodies have been identified.

One person is dead but due to third-degree burn injuries on face, officials not able to identify.

My colleagues Alok and Pragynesh have an update based on the initial investigation

Sources are telling them that initial investigation suggests blast site does not appear to have any splinter or resulted in craters.

“The people who were injured don’t have splinter wounds, and there’s no crater at the spot. However, the explosion was so powerful that the vehicles around were completely shattered,” a police officer said.

There’s no smell of RDX.

In the preliminary investigation, it seems that the explosion was so strong that it initially appeared to be a terror attack — but it looks like this location was not the intended target.

Perhaps the material was being transported, or the target was somewhere else, the officer said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweets, "Pained beyond words by the loss of lives in a blast in Delhi. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Have visited the blast site and also met the injured in the hospital. My prayers for their quick recovery. Top agencies are investigating the incident with full intensity, and will go  in-depth into the incident."

Nazim says his brother-in-law Mohd Mohsin (33), a battery rickshaw driver from Daryaganj was at the spot when the incident happened.

“We saw the news on TV and we called him but he did not take the call. Now we are trying to find him but nobody is helping us. My sister Sultana is in a terrible condition as Mohsin is nowhere to be found,” he tells my colleague Ankita Upadhyay.

Nazim is at Lok Nayak hospital looking for Mohsin.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Delhi Minister Ashish Sood arrive at Lok Nayak Hospital A blast took place in a Hyundai i20 car near the Red Fort today at around 7 pm. Due to the blast, eight people have died so far.

Akasa Air has issued an advisory in the light of the Red Fort blast.

“Due to enhanced security measures at all airports across India, we request you to reach the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure, to ensure a seamless check-in and boarding experience. Please ensure you carry valid government approved photo identification documents for entry to the airport,” it said in a statement.

Delhi Police Emergency: 112 (24 hours, reports of missing persons will be investigated)

Delhi Police Control Room: 011-22910010 or 011-22910011

LNJP Hospital (where most of the injured are admitted): 011-23233400, Emergency 011-23239249 (can inquire in person or by phone)

Delhi Fire Service: 101

Ambulance: 102 or 108

AIIMS Trauma Center (if anyone has been shifted there): 011-26594405

Police are now questioning a Gurgaon resident under whose name the car used in the Delhi Red Fort blast was registered, sources told The Indian Express.

The man is learnt to have told investigators that he had sold the vehicle to someone else, and police are working with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to ascertain the current owner. Sources said the vehicle changed hands in March this year.

A day after the explosion outside Red Fort, the Centre has decided to hand over the investigation to the National Investigation Agency. The decision was taken during a high-level security review meeting, which was chaired by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday morning at his residence.

“Shah chaired a high-level security review meeting at 11 am. Union Home Secretary, Director IB, Delhi Police commissioner, and DG NIA attended the meeting. DGP Jammu and Kashmir also virtually joined the meeting,” an official said.

Security heightened at Lajpat Nagar Market in the wake of the blast near the Red Fort that left 13 people dead and 20 injured on Monday evening. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across key public areas as investigations continue.

Authorities tightened security across Jammu, including at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Tuesday, a day after an explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort in which at least 13 people were killed and several others were injured. Officials said that security has been stepped up at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and its surrounding area, including the Katra town, which serves as a base camp for pilgrims on their way to the holy shrine. The police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel deployed there have also been ordered to conduct anti-sabotage checks in the shrine area and along the yatra tracks from Katra town.

Joint raids conducted by Uttar Pradesh ATS, J&K and Lucknow Police in Lucknow in relation the blast the took place at Red Fort on Monday evening killing at least 13 people and injuring several.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a Bhutan visit, has said entire India is standing with the families of the Delhi blast victims. “I have come here with a heavy heart… I was in constant touch with the investigation agencies… The conspirators behind this incident will not be spared,” he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials to review the investigation into the Delhi car blast that killed 12 people and injured several others near the Red Fort. READ HERE.

As the probe into the blast near Delhi's iconic Red Fort deepens, investigators today took three more doctors from Faridabad's Al-Falah University into custody. The university has made headlines after three doctors linked to it came under the spotlight for their alleged involvement in terrorist activities, including yesterday's blast that claimed nine lives and left over 20 injured. India's premier anti-terror agency, the National Investigation Agency, has now taken over the probe into the blast that has shaken the nation.

Officers from the Delhi Police Crime Branch reached the university this morning, scanned CCTV footage of the campus, and also spoke to people there to gather more information about three doctors whose names have come up during their investigation into the massive explosives haul from Faridabad and the deadly blast that followed.

These three doctors are Muzammil Shakeel, Umar Mohammed, and Shaheen Shahid. Muzammil and Umar are from Kashmir, and Shaheen is from Lucknow, and all three had been working at the Faridabad hospital, investigators have found. A source said all three were working as senior doctors at the university-cum-hospital. READ MORE HERE.