Slow-moving Hyundai i20 halts at red light — moments later, a loud explosion: What happened near Red Fort at 6:52 pm

The blast occurred around 6:52 pm, shaking the high-security area and sending panic across Old Delhi.

According to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, the car—bearing a Haryana registration number—was moving slowly toward a red light when it came to a halt and exploded moments later.

The impact of the blast was so powerful that nearby vehicles caught fire and streetlights were shattered.

“At around 6:52 pm, a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light. An explosion occurred in that vehicle, damaging nearby vehicles as well,” Golcha told reporters.

Pulwama link under investigation

Soon after the explosion, the car’s registered owner, identified as Salman, was detained by Delhi Police.

During interrogation, he revealed that he had already sold the vehicle to another person.

RC of the Hyundai i20 car (HR 26CE 7674) involved in the blast near Red Fort Metro Station in Delhi.

Further investigation uncovered that the car had reportedly been sold to Tariq, a resident of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, raising suspicions of a possible terror link.

Sources revealed that fake documents were used during the sale, and that the car’s registration certificate (RC) remains in Salman’s name.

The car had previously been challaned for wrong parking in Faridabad on September 20, 2025.

Police are now working to trace the vehicle’s chain of ownership, suspecting that the car may have been moved across state lines to obscure its trail.

Blast timing raises more questions

Officials are probing whether the explosives-laden car was intended for a more crowded target but detonated prematurely near the Red Fort.

The area is typically busy during evening hours, especially with commuters near the Chandni Chowk and Lal Qila Metro stations.

The car was parked near the Red Fort for three hours, entering the parking lot at 3:19 pm and leaving at 6:48 pm, four minutes before the explosion occurred.

A senior police officer said, “We are not ruling out any angle, including a terror conspiracy. Forensic teams are examining debris to identify the type of explosive used.”

No immediate link to Faridabad terror bust

Interestingly, the explosion took place on the same day an interstate terror module was busted, in which 2,900 kilograms of bomb-making chemicals, including ammonium nitrate, were seized.

However, police sources have clarified that no direct connection has yet been established between the Delhi blast and the Haryana arrests, where a group of doctors was found stockpiling weapons and explosives in Faridabad.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that “no angles are being ruled out”, and that central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have been briefed to assist in the probe.

Eyewitnesses recall the horror

Eyewitnesses described the terrifying scenes that followed the explosion. The car went up in flames, and the blast impact flung vehicles as far as 150 meters.

“The blast was so intense it felt like the earth caved in,” said one eyewitness. “I thought I was going to die. People were screaming, running, and falling over each other trying to escape.”

Another local resident added, “I ran as fast as I could. I fell three times while running. It felt like there would be a second blast any moment.”

Delhi on high alert

Following the explosion, Delhi Police cordoned off the Red Fort area, and forensic experts were deployed to collect samples from the site.

Seven fire tenders were rushed to the scene to douse the flames, while 15 CAT ambulances ferried the injured to nearby hospitals.

Security has since been intensified across the national capital, with checkpoints established at all major entry points, metro stations, and crowded public places.

As investigations continue, authorities are focusing on whether the Red Fort blast was an isolated incident or part of a larger coordinated plan.

This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.