‘Felt we were going to die’: Eyewitnesses recall terrifying Red Fort metro blast; car parts fly, streets plunged into chaos

Despite the blast’s ferocity — which tore through vehicles and left nine dead — investigators were puzzled to find no crater, shrapnel, or wires usually left behind by conventional explosives. The absence of metallic residue or embedded fragments has raised questions about the nature of the material used. Forensic teams are exploring whether a chemical or fuel-based ignition caused the fireball rather than a standard explosive device.

The explosion struck just as the i20 halted at a red light near Red Fort Metro Station. The intensity enough to engulf nearby vehicles and scatter debris over 20 metres — indicates a possible timer-based or remote trigger mechanism. Yet, no electronic circuitry or detonator has been recovered. Experts suspect a volatile chemical mix, possibly fuel vapour reacting under pressure, may have produced the sudden ignition, making the event even harder to explain.

The car at the centre of the explosion reportedly had three men inside, all of whom died on the spot. While this initially suggested a tragic accident, agencies are now probing if one or more could have been suicide operatives. A fidayeen-style attack in a moving vehicle, however, is rare and difficult to execute, raising doubts about whether the occupants knew they were carrying an explosive payload. Their identities may hold the key to determining intent.

The blast site lies in one of the most heavily policed zones of Old Delhi, near Red Fort, Chandni Chowk and the metro hub. The fact that the car moved freely through the area before exploding has raised concerns about existing security protocols. CCTV footage is being reviewed to trace its route from Gurgaon to the blast point, as agencies examine whether forged papers, multiple registrations, or gaps in vehicle checking allowed the car to slip through undetected.

In the chaos of the first few minutes, police assumed a CNG cylinder burst had triggered the fire — a common mishap in Delhi’s crowded traffic. The car appeared to have a CNG kit, and eyewitnesses saw flames rather than a sharp detonation. But as visuals surfaced showing bodies, flying debris and the sheer scale of destruction, experts quickly ruled out a routine gas leak. The lack of cylinder fragments further reinforced suspicions of a deliberate explosion.

Records show the Hyundai i20 had changed hands at least four times from Gurgaon to Okhla, Ambala, and finally Pulwama each sale obscuring its real trail. Investigators suspect this was not a coincidence but a deliberate effort to mask the vehicle’s last handler. The use of multiple fake or temporary registrations is a known tactic in terror logistics. Police are now piecing together who drove the car into Delhi that evening, and why.

Even as senior officials, including the home minister, visited the spot, forensic clarity remained elusive. Teams from FSL, NSG and NIA spent hours sifting through burnt debris and melted metal, yet no definitive traces of RDX, ammonium nitrate or TNT were found. The heat of the blast may have vaporized chemical evidence, complicating analysis. The delay in confirmation has only deepened the mystery — was it a bomb, a chemical reaction, or something far more unconventional?