A young trader from Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district was among the victims of the powerful car explosion that shook Delhi near the Red Fort on Monday evening. The deceased, Nauman (22), had travelled from Jhinjhana to the capital to purchase cosmetics for his business but became one of the nine people killed in the blast.

His grieving family arrived at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital on Tuesday morning to identify his body. A cousin, Aman (21), who had accompanied him to Delhi, suffered injuries and remains under medical care. Outside the hospital, despair filled the atmosphere as relatives of the deceased and injured awaited word on their loved ones.

Blast Shatters Evening Calm Near Historic Monument

The explosion occurred around 6:52 pm near the Red Fort Metro Station, sending shockwaves through the busy Subhash Marg intersection. A Hyundai i20 with a Haryana registration number was at the centre of the detonation, which set nearby vehicles ablaze and injured more than twenty people.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha stated, “At around 6.52 pm, a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light. An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged.”

Multiple fire calls were received within minutes, and seven fire engines were rushed to the scene to douse the flames. Eyewitnesses described a deafening blast followed by scenes of chaos, with vehicles burning and bystanders scrambling for safety.

Friends’ Meeting Turns Fatal

The blast also claimed the lives of two friends from Amroha district—Lokesh Agarwal (52), a fertilizer trader from Hasanpur, and Ashok Gujjar (34), a DTC bus conductor from Mangrola village. Lokesh had travelled to Delhi to visit an unwell relative and called Ashok to meet him near Lal Qila Metro Station. The explosion occurred moments after their meeting, killing both instantly.

Their families learned of the tragedy through news broadcasts before being officially informed by police. Later that night, Amroha district officials visited their homes to offer condolences and assure support.

Terror Angle Under Investigation

Police have registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), suspecting a terror plot behind the explosion. Early forensic analysis and intelligence reports have indicated possible extremist involvement.

Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), and forensic services are investigating. Two men, believed to have previously owned the Hyundai i20, have been detained for questioning.

Home Minister Amit Shah commented, “This evening, around 7 pm, a blast occurred in a Hyundai i20 car at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near the Red Fort in Delhi. The blast injured some pedestrians and damaged some vehicles. Preliminary reports indicate that some people have lost their lives.”

Authorities have requested citizens not to circulate unverified visuals or information while the investigation continues.

Security Tightened After Explosives Seizure

Adding to the concern, security agencies in Faridabad, Haryana, discovered 2,900 kilograms of explosives just hours before the Delhi incident—raising fears of a wider, coordinated operation. The site of the blast remains sealed as investigators comb through debris for evidence.

In the aftermath, the Lal Qila Metro Station was temporarily closed, and access to the Red Fort was suspended for three days as a precaution. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been briefed, with Shah scheduled to chair a high-level security review meeting.

Families Demand Justice

As Delhi mourns, Nauman’s relatives and other victims’ families have called for swift action and stronger safety measures. The explosion, which killed nine people and injured over twenty, has sparked widespread outrage and fear across the city.

For Nauman’s family in Shamli, what began as a simple business trip ended in an unimaginable tragedy, a reminder of how ordinary lives can be shattered in an instant.