At least eight people have been killed and more injured after a car exploded near the Red Fort in Delhi, authorities have said.
Delhi City police spokesperson, Sanjay Tyagi confirmed the deaths, while the deputy fire chief stated that an additional 19 people had been injured.
Police are investigating the cause of the explosion and exploring all possibilities, according to Mr. Tyagi.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha reported that the incident occurred around 18:52 local time, as a slow-moving vehicle stopped at a red light before exploding, resulting in damage to nearby vehicles.
Following the blast, Mumbai has been put on high alert, along with the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh.
The explosion took place close to a metro station near the iconic Red Fort, a site visited by thousands of tourists annually and the venue for India's Prime Minister's Independence Day speeches.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims' families, while opposition leader Rahul Gandhi described the news as extremely heartbreaking. Federal home minister Amit Shah confirmed the vehicle involved was a Hyundai i20.
We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all potential causes into account, Shah added.
Security measures have been intensified at sensitive religious sites and border areas in Uttar Pradesh, a densely populated state with major attractions like the Taj Mahal.
An eyewitness described the situation post-blast as chaotic, noting a sudden loud explosion followed by widespread panic and confusion as people ran in every direction.
