Opposition demands probe into Red Fort blast

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday (November 10, 2025) urged the government to ensure a “prompt and thorough investigation” into the blast near the Red Fort in Delhi in the evening that killed at least 9 people and left 20 injured, especially given that it occurred in a high-security zone. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav urged the government to take a free and transparent action to reassure the public.

The explosion occurred around 6.52 p.m. in a slow-moving vehicle that had stopped at a red light outside the Red Fort. The blast triggered a fire that engulfed nearby vehicles, including several commercial taxis.

Explosion near Red Fort LIVE:

Mr. Kharge said, “In this moment of grief, our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured.” He also said that those responsible for the security lapse must be held accountable.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called the incident “heartbreaking and concerning”, extending condolences and wishing a speedy recovery of the injured. Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal expressed anguish, saying, “The loss of many lives is especially painful. The entire country is united in this difficult moment.” He urged the government to “speedily investigate this incident and throw further light on what has transpired”.

Senior RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Grand Alliance’s (Mahagatbandhan) chief ministerial candidate in the ongoing Bihar Assembly elections, demanded a thorough probe to “reassure the public with fair and transparent action” and ensure the culprits face the “harshest possible punishment”. “For how long Indians will live in fear?” he asked. The second and final phase of polling for the Bihar elections is scheduled on Tuesday.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal called for an immediate investigation into the possibility of a larger conspiracy. “Negligence regarding Delhi’s security cannot be tolerated,” he said.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav stressed that the incident should be investigated from every angle and that immediate security measures be put in place to alleviate public fear.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also expressed grief and demanded maximum punishment for those responsible for the “condemnable act.”

Eyewitness accounts

Dharmender, a resident of Greater Noida, told The Hindu that he was shopping on the opposite footpath when he heard a loud explosion and saw vehicles catch fire. “There was heavy traffic, and the slow-moving vehicle in which the blast happened went up in flames, which led to several commercial taxis around it catching fire,” he said.

He added that only two police officers were initially present at the Red Fort chowki, and they rushed to rescue people. “We dragged out almost seven taxi drivers and saw that the vehicle in which the blast happened had a Haryana number plate,” he said.

The plate allegedly belonged to one Nadeem Khan. Fire and police teams reportedly arrived about 10 minutes later.

Bhupender Singh, a Noida resident, said his commercial vehicle was just 10 feet away. “The traffic light had just turned green when the blast happened. I quickly left my vehicle and ran towards the market,” he said, describing the intensity of the blast as strong enough to blow people apart.

Mohsin Ali, a local worker, said he recovered at least three charred bodies and placed them on an e-rickshaw. “E-rickshaws blew up; body parts of people scattered during the explosion, and hardly anyone near the vehicle could be rescued,” he said. He also noted that the vehicle debris shattered the glass of a nearby temple.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed that the explosion occurred in a slow-moving vehicle and damaged nearby vehicles. “All agencies, FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory), NIA (National Investigation Agency) are here. Some people have died, and some have been injured. We are investigating the incident and will update shortly,” he said, adding that the Home Minister is being kept informed. Several fire tenders, CATS vans, and bomb disposal units remain at the site for further investigation.