NEW DELHI: A gas cylinder explosion near the historic Red Fort in New Delhi on Monday (November 10) killed at least eight people and injured 19 others, according to Indian media, citing local authorities.
Despite confirmation from police that the blast was accidental, a wave of unverified claims on Indian and Afghanistan-based social media accounts immediately attempted to link the incident to Pakistan, spreading false narratives without any evidence.
Police sources, cited by India’s Republic TV, confirmed the blast was caused by a CNG cylinder.
The explosion occurred near the Red Fort Metro Station, Gate No. 1, a busy area in the old city. Firefighters reported that flames from the initial blast spread to at least six nearby cars and three auto-rickshaws.
Eyewitnesses, cited by Indian media, described loud booms, shaking buildings, and panic among residents. Delhi police and forensic teams were on site to examine the blast and collect evidence.
Despite official confirmation of the gas cylinder as the cause, Indian and Afghanistan-based social media accounts immediately attributed the incident to Pakistan.
Several Indian social media users and government-linked officials, including BJP supporters, falsely claimed cross-border involvement without evidence.
Afghan social media accounts associated with TTA and TTP terrorist groups also circulated fake statements purporting to link the explosion to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
A fact-check revealed that the supposed Lashkar-e-Taiba account was fake and used solely to misattribute responsibility for the explosion.
Pakistan’s security sources criticised the rush to assign blame without any evidence. “The script repeats itself,” a source said.
The source added that these allegations emerged amid political tension over the Bihar elections in India. “With the elections collapsing and vote-rigging scandals damaging BJP’s image, the Terror Troika — Modi, Doval, and Amit Shah — reverted to its old formula: blame Pakistan,” the source said.
“Within hours, the propaganda machinery kicked in, with TV anchors and anonymous sources reading from the same script.”
Security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali in Islamabad said the timing and location of the blast, near the Red Fort — a monument symbolising India’s Mughal-era Muslim heritage — appear to have been exploited politically.
“The choice of location seems intended to stir anti-Muslim sentiment and mobilise voters through religious polarisation,” he said.
Indian social media users also highlighted alleged pressure on journalists, police and Indian media. One user, Colonel Hathi, wrote on X that journalists were being pressured to portray the CNG explosion as a bomb blast and exaggerate casualties.
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, said the police had initially confirmed the cylinder explosion but were later hesitant due to political pressure from the Modi government.
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
The coordinated spread of misinformation immediately after the blast included claims by some users that Indian intelligence agencies were controlling fake accounts to falsely blame Pakistan.
“Just twenty minutes after the Delhi Metro blast, fake accounts under RAW’s influence started accusing Pakistan,” one post read.
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
The incident highlights how unverified claims and politically motivated narratives can rapidly spread online.
The Red Fort explosion underscores the challenges of verifying information in real time amid social media speculation.
