NEW DELHI: At least eight people were killed in a gas cylinder explosion near the historic Red Fort in India’s capital, New Delhi, on Monday, Indian media reported. Indian police sources, cited by Republic TV, confirmed that the explosion was caused by a CNG cylinder.
Delhi city police spokesperson Sanjay Tyagi said eight people were killed in the CNG cylinder explosion. “Eight people have been killed in the explosion,” Tyagi said.
Visuals on local media showed flames and smoke billowing from more than one vehicle in what was described as a congested street located near a metro station in the old part of Delhi.
According to Indian outlet NDTV, the explosion was reported inside a car near the Fort, and the fire brigade was on site.
Meanwhile, the Times of India reported that the fire caused by the explosion engulfed three to four other vehicles.
Indian media reported that the cities of New Delhi and Mumbai were placed on high alert.
“The blast occurred in a car parked near Red Fort Metro Station gate number 1. The intensity was quite high. Injuries are feared,” said a senior official of Delhi Fire Service as cited by the Press Trust of India.
“I was at the gurdwara when I heard a strong sound. We couldn’t make out what it was, it was that loud,” said an eyewitness as quoted by India’s PTI news agency. “A number of vehicles nearby were completely damaged,” he added.
Another resident said the impact was so strong that nearby shops and buildings shook. “I had come here to buy something when I heard a huge blast. The whole shop trembled,” he said. “Several people were injured, and many were being taken away from the spot soon after.”
The Red Fort, known in India as the Lal Qila, is a 17th-century, Mughal-era fort located in the old city and visited by tourists throughout the year.
A blast occurred in a car near #RedFort in #Delhi on Monday evening, prompting authorities to rush five fire tenders to the spot, an official said.
Delhi Fire Services received a call regarding the explosion near La Qila Metro Station. https://t.co/RmqLTQx7fh pic.twitter.com/rLryFx7Pd0
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) November 10, 2025
However, soon after the explosion, several Indian social media users and officials of the BJP government swiftly blamed Pakistan for the incident, without any evidence or investigation.
Similarly, Afghanistan-based social media accounts linked to the TTA and TTP terrorist groups are preparing and circulating fake statements attributed to Lashkar-e-Taiba in an attempt to link the Delhi gas cylinder explosion to Pakistan. However, a fact-check revealed that a fake social media account with the name of Lashkar-e-Taiba was being used to falsely attribute responsibility for the explosion to the group.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani security source, commenting on the incident, strongly rejected the Indian social media users’ baseless allegations and said, “The script repeats itself”. “Early on 10 November, Indian media erupted with sensational headlines, claiming the discovery of hundreds of kilograms of RDX and the arrest of alleged ‘ISI-linked doctors’.”
The security source further noted, “With Bihar elections collapsing and massive vote-rigging scandals shaking BJP’s image, the Terror Troika, Modi, Doval & Amit Shah, has reverted to its old, trusted formula: blame Pakistan. Within hours, the propaganda machinery kicked in, from TV anchors to “anonymous sources”, all reading from the same script.”
Soon, expect “undeniable proof” of cross-border links magically discovered right at the scene, a signature pattern in India’s long history of false-flag theatrics, the Pakistani security source added.
Meanwhile, Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali said the timing and location of the explosion strongly suggest an attempt to exploit its impact for the political advantage of the Bihar elections.
He noted that the target — situated near the Red Fort, a monument symbolising India’s Mughal-era Muslim heritage — raises concerns, as it appears to deliberately focus on a site historically associated with the Muslim community.
“The choice of location seems intended to stir anti-Muslim sentiment and mobilise voters through religious polarisation,” he said, adding that such tactics could be aimed at influencing the outcome of the Bihar elections.
I never heard such a loud explosion ever in my life. I fell three times due to the explosion. It felt as if we were all going to die…” said a local shopkeeper to ANI#delhiblast pic.twitter.com/ueVT7RNCGX
— The Hindh (@TheHindh) November 10, 2025
Social media users in India also questioned the government’s handling of the incident and the media’s portrayal of it.
An Indian user named Colonel Hathi posted on X: “Many journalists are telling each other that the Modi sarkaar is pressuring media outlets to portray the CNG cylinder explosion near the Red Fort as a bomb blast and to exaggerate the death toll.”
Many journalists are telling each other that the Modi sarkaar is pressuring media outlets to portray the CNG cylinder explosion near the Red Fort as a bomb blast and to exaggerate the death toll.
But why??? pic.twitter.com/2wpM4L6O8t— 🇮🇳 Colonel Hathi 🇮🇳 (@pinaka_av15) November 10, 2025
Another user, Col Aarti, wrote: “According to Republic’s report, the police had earlier confirmed that the explosion was caused by a CNG cylinder. However, now the police are under political pressure from Modi’s government, which has made them nervous and hesitant.”
According to Republic’s report, the police had earlier confirmed that the explosion was caused by a CNG cylinder. However, now the police are under political pressure from Modi’s government, which has made them nervous and hesitant. #Delhi #Blast #Carblast pic.twitter.com/8b7oVoquyM
— Col Aarti Yadev (@911y3) November 10, 2025
Another user on X claimed that misinformation campaigns had begun immediately after the incident.
The post read: “Just twenty minutes after the Delhi Metro bomb blast, fake accounts under RAW’s influence started accusing Pakistan of the blast. These are all accounts controlled by Indian RAW. Their security should be questioned, and the whole world should know that this is being done because of the Bihar elections.”
Just twenty minutes after the Dehli Metro bomb blast, fake accounts under RAW’s influence started accusing Pakistan of the blast. These are all accounts controlled by Indian RAW. Their security should be questioned, and the whole world should know that this is being done because… pic.twitter.com/eMnGtJZXyq
— SaddamShah (@SaddaM_Shah92) November 10, 2025
