Delhi car blast: Hyderabad, Andhra put on high alert

New Delhi: Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh have been put on a high alert after a car blast ripped through a busy Delhi street, leaving 13 people dead and five others injured.

Talking to NewsMeter, Commissioner of Police V C Sajjanar confirmed that Hyderabad has been put on high alert after the explosion.

Interestingly, the high alert was sounded hours before the polling starts in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills assembly by-election on November 11.

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta has issued instructions to all Superintendents of Police, Range DIGs, and IGPs to strengthen security measures across the State.

Special attention would be put in Visakhapatnam, focusing on the forthcoming CII Partnership Summit, scheduled to be held in Visakhapatnam city on November 14 and 15.

All public places, vital installations, and sensitive locations are being brought under enhanced security coverage. Special Branch and Intelligence Wings have been activated to collect field-level information and maintain close surveillance.

The public is urged to remain alert and vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious objects, persons, or activities to the nearest police station or by dialing 100 / 112.

Particular attention is being given to places of mass gatherings, with intensified patrolling, checking, and monitoring through CCTV networks and special teams. All field officers have been directed to launch special operations to ensure the safety and security of citizens throughout the State.

What happened ?

The explosion occurred at around 6.52 PM when a slow-moving I-20 approached the Subhash Mart Metro Station near the Red Fort. Minutes later, a deadly explosion went off, killing 13 people and seriously injuring five others.

This is one of the busiest places in the national capital. Following the blast, the entire country has been put on high alert. Investigating agencies said it was a high-intensity blast. The victims have been admitted to LNJP Hospital, located two kilometers away from the blast site.

There were 20 cars near the red signal at Subhash Mart Metro Station when the blast took place. Police did not find any shrapnel on the bodies of the deceased and injured.

The blast took place in close proximity to the Red Fort, which witnesses thousands of tourists on a daily basis. The explosion occurred extremely near the entry point of Chandni Chowk, one of the busiest markets in Delhi.

The blast occurred during rush hour on Monday evening. So far there is no terror angle established. The central investigating agencies are looking into the nature of the explosion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah have been briefed on the situation.

Pertinently, the blast went off on the day when one of the biggest hauls of explosives was recovered in Faridabad.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that within 10 minutes of the explosion, Delhi Police, NSG, FSL, and NIA reached the spot. “I spoke to the Commissioner of Police - Delhi and Special Branch, we are investigating every angle. There won’t be any delay in the investigation, and every minor detail will be put in front of the public,” he said.