Srinagar- A nationwide high alert was sounded on Monday evening after a deadly explosion near the Red Fort metro station in New Delhi killed at least eight people and left 24 others injured, prompting states across India to tighten security and increase vigil at vital installations, metro stations, and public places.

A high-intensity blast ripped through a parked car near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort metro station around 6:30 pm, gutting several vehicles and sending shockwaves across the national capital. Ten fire tenders rushed to the spot, and the fire was brought under control by 7:30 pm. Police cordoned off the area as NSG and NIA teams, along with forensic experts, began collecting samples from the site.

Authorities described the blast as“massive,” with eyewitnesses recounting scenes of chaos and panic. Body parts were seen scattered across the road, and the windows of nearby shops and metro facilities were shattered.

Alerts Issued Across States
In the wake of the Delhi blast, several states - including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha - issued high alerts and tightened security measures at critical locations.

In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a state-wide alert, directing police to intensify patrols and maintain high vigilance at metro stations, temples, malls, and crowded areas. Quick Response Teams (QRTs), bomb squads, and ATS units were deployed, with special checks underway in Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Lucknow.

In Haryana, Director General of Police O. P. Singh confirmed that police have been deployed at inter-state borders, parking lots, and transport hubs.“Special vigilance is being maintained in NCR districts. Citizens are urged to report any suspicious objects or persons,” he said.

In Punjab, a red alert was sounded across all districts, with police patrolling sensitive locations and conducting extensive vehicle checks.“We are maintaining strict surveillance in all districts,” said a police spokesperson.

Maharashtra Police also stepped up security at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Dadar, and Kalyan stations, with dog squads and bomb detection teams deployed. Railway police have urged passengers not to touch unidentified objects.

In Kolkata, Commissioner Manoj Verma said police have been instructed to remain on high alert, especially near metro stations and crowded zones. Security was intensified around Eden Gardens, where India is scheduled to play South Africa in a Test match later this week.

Odisha Police heightened security around the Jagannath Temple in Puri, major religious sites, and the Integrated Test Range in Balasore. Similar directives were issued in Bihar, where polling for the second phase of Assembly elections is due on November 11.

Gujarat Police too ordered all units to remain vigilant and increase patrolling at railway stations, airports, and major city hubs.

MENAFN10112025000215011059ID1110322983