Rush-hour blast kills 9 near Red Fort

NEW DELHI: At least nine people were killed and 30 others injured following a high-intensity explosion in a car near Red Fort in Old Delhi on Monday evening. The powerful blast also set at least three other vehicles moving alongside ablaze.

The impact of the blast was such that human body parts along with parts of vehicles were found flung across a 20-25-metre radius. Massive flames and thick smoke engulfed the area before police and fire teams contained the situation. Apart from the occupants of the car, a Gurgaon number plate i20 hatchback, passersby were also killed in the explosion. A forensic report is awaited on the nature of the blast and the ensuing fire to confirm a terror angle, cops said.

If it is indeed terror-related, this would be the first such blast in Delhi in 14 years, the last being in 2011 at the high court. Police commissioner Satish Golcha said it was around 6.52pm that a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the traffic signal. "An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to it, nearby vehicles were also damaged. Some people died, and some were injured in the incident," he said. Late evening, police said the vehicle was registered in the name of a Gurgaon resident, Salman, but it was sold to someone.

Cops said the ID of the current owner had the name Tariq, from Pulwama. Home minister Amit Shah also spoke with the Intelligence Bureau chief. The situation is being closely monitored. "The home minister has also called us, and information is being shared with him from time to time," Golcha added. Fire officials said they received an SOS call around 6.55pm about "some type of blast in a car and vehicle fire". Seven fire tenders were sent to the spot.

Soon, police and special cell also rushed. However, as the casualties and the scale of the blast was confirmed, NSG, NIA and other agencies were also pressed into service. 4 toll plazas in NCR among 10 in country that see most FASTag useFour toll plazas in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) - Kherki Daula on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, Mundka on UER-II, Chhajarsi in Ghaziabad and Bagan in Sonipat - are among the top 10 locations on the National Highways network in the country with the highest use of the FASTag annual pass by private vehicle owners. Sources said that at some plazas, such as Kherki Daula, the share of transactions happening through the annual pass exceeds 50%. This reflects how the FASTag annual pass has become one of the most popular and preferred modes of toll payment, an official said. So far, over 32 lakh private vehicle owners have opted for the annual pass, which is both convenient and economical. Officials said that a similar trend is expected among vehicle owners using the Dwarka Expressway, as many officegoers commuting to Gurugram and Manesar are likely to prefer the tolling mode to cut expenses and save time.

For such users, the total toll for a one-way trip through Bijwasan and Kherki Daula will be barely Rs 30. The annual pass, which costs Rs 3,000, allows commuters to cross 200 plazas and can be renewed multiple times a year. "Since the renewal process through NHAI's Rajyamarg App is seamless, it has become very convenient for vehicle users," an official said, adding that the FASTag annual pass has also boosted the popularity of the app - a single-window platform offering information and services related to NHAI-managed highways.

He added that greater use of the App by commuters will help NHAI get more insights into commuting patterns and high load stretches for future planning and expansion.