A powerful blast near Red Fort rocks Delhi

New Delhi:  In a  shocking development in the national capital  Delhi,  an explosion occured in the crowded area outside  Lal Qila Motro Station this evening at about 6.45 p.m.    At least eight people have been reported  dead and several  others injured in a powerful blast  that tore through a car parked near the Red Fort Metro Station  (Delhi police avers it was in a moving vehicle) , setting several other nearby  vehicles ablaze, officials said.  Police sources  say it was a Fidayeen terrorist attack;  investigating agencies  NIA, IB and  NSG have been pressed  to find more evidences from CCTV footage and  onlookers near the site.

Senior Delhi Police officials  including  Delhi Police Commissionor  Satish  Golcha,   reached the spot hurriedly to oversee the rescue operations and  search for the cues to the explosion.  The blast, which occurred near Gate No. 1 of the Lal Quila Metro Station, was very  intense and  it shattered the windows of vehicles parked several metres away and was heard across nearby buildings and Gaurishankar Mandir and Lajpat Rai Market  across  the road   leading   to  Chandni Chowk market.

Seven fire tenders reached  the location after the call was received at 6:55 PM according to witnesses. Delhi Police has restricted Entry and exit of Gate numbers 1 & 4 at Lal Qila.  Delhi Metro services are running normally throughout the entire network.

Home Minister Amit Shah reached the  Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital  (LNJP)  nearby where injured  persons have been admitted. He has also visited the blast site after visitng the injured in the LNJP hospital.

Police, according to  informed  sources have identified the car  carrying explosives and  involved in the blasts. The owner’s name has been  figured out by the sleuths, who is reported to be a resident of Gurugram (Haryana).