New Delhi, 11 November 2025 — The death toll in the car explosion near the historic Red Fort metro station in New Delhi has climbed to 13, police confirmed on Tuesday morning. The incident, which occurred on Monday evening, is now being treated as a potential terrorist act, with the Delhi Police registering an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act.
What Happened
At approximately 6:52 pm (IST) on Monday, a white Hyundai i20 stopped at a red light near the Red Fort-metro area in Old Delhi and exploded, scattering debris and igniting multiple vehicles. According to the Delhi Police commissioner, the vehicle had entered the city via the Badarpur border from Haryana and paused for over two to three hours in a parking lot adjacent to the monument before moving toward the traffic signal. The blast damaged nearby vehicles and auto‐rickshaws, and body parts were found in the car and surrounding area, according to forensic sources.
In the hours following the explosion, home minister Amit Shah convened a high-level security review meeting along with the home secretary, the director of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other senior officials. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation shut the Lal Qila metro station and the surrounding area remains under heavy surveillance.
Pulwama Doctor and Terror Module Links
Investigators say the blast may not have been a random accident. Early probe findings indicate the driver of the vehicle is likely a Pulwama-based doctor, Dr Umar Mohammad (also reported as Umar Un Nabi), who was previously employed at a medical college in Faridabad.
Dr Umar is alleged to be connected to a terror module uncovered in Faridabad where authorities seized nearly 2,900 kg of ammonium-nitrate and other explosives. According to police, the car used in the blast changed ownership several times and eventually came into the suspect’s possession shortly after the Faridabad arrests of doctors linked to the module.
Sources indicate the incident is being treated as a fidayeen (suicide) attack: the suspect allegedly detonated the vehicle as soon as he became aware his network was compromised. The FIR under UAPA covers sections dealing with conspiracy and terrorist acts.
Why It Matters
The blast hits at a major landmark – the Red Fort is an iconic 17-th-century monument and annually hosts the prime minister’s Independence Day address. A strike here carries symbolic weight and raises broader concerns about security in densely populated urban zones, crowded markets and heritage-sites.
Moreover, the apparent shift in recruitment – with medically qualified professionals allegedly involved in terror planning – signals evolving tactics by militant outfits such as Jaish‑e‑Mohammed and other networks. The involvement of a doctor from Pulwama also underscores the cross-regional nature of the suspected conspiracy, spanning Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana and the national capital.
Next Steps in the Probe
Forensic teams from the Delhi Police Special Cell, NIA and the National Security Guard (NSG) are examining samples from the blast site. The first reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory are expected imminently. Night-long raids were conducted across hotels and lodging areas in Paharganj and Daryaganj soon after the explosion, yielding several arrests for questioning.
States adjacent to Delhi – including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra – have been placed on high alert; security at airports, railway stations and major installations has been intensified.
What It Means for You
Citizens in Delhi and nearby regions should be vigilant. Public spaces, transportation hubs and heritage‐sites may see increased security checks and restrictions. Visitors to monuments like the Red Fort may face closures or delays – indeed the Red Fort has been shut for three days following the blast.
Travelers and residents should avoid spreading unverified information: the Press Information Bureau has flagged multiple fake images circulating online purporting to show the blast, but which originate from other incidents.
For the nation, this incident may prompt a review of national capital security architecture, especially around high-profile landmarks and urban traffic‐choke points. The invocation of the UAPA also sets the stage for a large-scale intelligence and operations response involving multiple agencies.
