Key Highlights:
- A 22-year-old cosmetics trader from Shamli district became one of 12 victims in the deadly Red Fort blast that occurred on November 10, 2025
- The high-intensity explosion ripped through a Hyundai i20 at 6:52 PM near Red Fort Metro Station, triggering UAPA investigation
- Delhi Police registered FIR under anti-terror laws as forensic evidence points to possible fidayeen-style suicide attack
Opening Overview
The Red Fort blast has shattered families across Uttar Pradesh, claiming the life of 22-year-old Nauman from Jhinjhana in Shamli district, who had traveled to Delhi merely to purchase cosmetics for his trade. The devastating explosion near the historic Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening transformed a routine business trip into a national tragedy, leaving bereaved relatives gathered outside Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital in scenes of profound grief and chaos. The Red Fort blast, which occurred at approximately 6:52 PM, has now claimed 12 lives, with the death toll rising as three more victims succumbed to their injuries on Tuesday.
Delhi Police have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act following forensic evidence and intelligence inputs suggesting possible terror links to the Red Fort blast. The incident marks one of the most deadly attacks in the national capital in recent years, sending shockwaves through communities and prompting high-alert security measures across major cities.​
Victims From Trading Communities
Nauman, identified as a victim of the Red Fort blast, had made the fateful journey from his hometown of Jhinjhana specifically to procure cosmetics inventory for his business operations. His family received the devastating news on Tuesday morning and rushed to LNJP Hospital, where medical authorities confirmed his death. Accompanying Nauman during the Red Fort blast was his 21-year-old relative Aman, who sustained injuries in the explosion and remains under medical care.
The tragedy extended beyond Nauman to include other traders from Uttar Pradesh, including 52-year-old Lokesh Agarwal, a fertilizer trader from Hasanpur in Amroha district, who had traveled to Delhi to visit an ailing relative. Ashok Gujjar, a 34-year-old DTC bus conductor from Mangrola village in Amroha, had arranged to meet his friend Lokesh near the Lal Qila Metro Station moments before the Red Fort blast tore through the area.​
Blast Dynamics and Immediate Impact
The Red Fort blast originated from a slow-moving Hyundai i20 bearing a Haryana registration number that had stopped at a traffic signal near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha confirmed that the explosion occurred inside the vehicle, causing catastrophic damage to nearby automobiles and setting multiple vehicles ablaze. Seven fire tenders responded to the emergency call at 6:55 PM, with Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik reporting that the blaze was brought under control by 7:29 PM.
The force of the Red Fort blast was so intense that it scattered car parts across the densely populated area, creating scenes of horror as mangled bodies lay on the road. Among the injured from the Red Fort blast were 28-year-old Ankush Sharma and 20-year-old Rahul Kaushik, who were returning from Gauri Shankar Temple when the explosion threw Ankush onto a car, resulting in 80% burns to his face and body.​
Investigation and Terror Angle
Delhi Police’s preliminary investigation into the Red Fort blast indicates the high-intensity explosion may have been a fidayeen-style suicide attack, according to sources familiar with the probe. Investigators discovered that the suspect potentially intended to carry out a larger operation but may have shifted to a suicide mission after learning that a Faridabad explosives module had been busted. The Red Fort blast investigation has revealed that authorities recovered approximately 2,900 kg of explosives, including 350 kg of ammonium nitrate, from two residential buildings in Faridabad just hours before the explosion.
Delhi Police registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Act, with raids underway at multiple locations across the national capital region. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that National Security Guard teams, National Investigation Agency personnel, and forensic departments have begun thorough investigations, examining all CCTV cameras near the Red Fort blast site.
| Red Fort Blast Investigation Status | Details |
|---|---|
| Death Toll | 12 (as of November 11, 2025) ​ |
| Injured Count | Over 20 individuals ​ |
| Legal Action | FIR under UAPA and Explosives Act ​ |
| Vehicle Involved | Hyundai i20, Haryana registration ​ |
| Time of Incident | 6:52 PM, November 10, 2025 ​ |
| Investigating Agencies | Delhi Police Special Cell, NIA, NSG, Forensics ​ |
Hospital Response and Family Anguish
Outside LNJP Hospital, grief and chaos dominated the atmosphere as families of Red Fort blast victims gathered desperately, searching for their missing loved ones and awaiting updates on the injured. The Medical Superintendent at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital reported that 15 individuals were brought to the facility, with eight having died before reaching the hospital and three in seriously injured condition. Visuals from the hospital premises captured relatives breaking down in tears, unable to comprehend the sudden loss inflicted by the Red Fort blast.
In Amroha district’s Mangrola village, grief engulfed the community when news of Ashok Gujjar’s death reached his family, with local police administration officials visiting late Monday night to console the bereaved and assure assistance. The body of Lokesh Agarwal was transported to his residence in Amroha on Tuesday morning, as his family struggled to process the tragedy of the Red Fort blast.​
According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau, between 2018 and 2022, law enforcement agencies across India arrested 8,947 individuals under UAPA provisions, with only 252 convictions recorded during this period. Delhi specifically recorded nine UAPA cases and 34 arrests in 2020, representing the highest number in six years for the national capital. The Red Fort blast represents a significant security breach in a city that has seen declining crime rates, with Delhi Police statistics showing an 8.38% reduction in registered cases during the first half of 2025 compared to 2024.
Data released by Delhi Police indicated that between January 1 and June 30, 2025, authorities registered 1,18,822 cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Indian Penal Code, showing a reduction of approximately 10,000 cases from 2024.​
Security Ramifications and National Alert
The Red Fort blast prompted immediate high-alert declarations across Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities, with security tightened at airports, railway stations, and bus terminals. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation intensified security measures throughout metro premises in response to the Red Fort blast, implementing enhanced screening protocols for passengers. Intelligence agencies are examining whether the Red Fort blast target might have been elsewhere, given that the car was moving slowly through the area before stopping at the traffic signal.
The incident occurred in a densely populated historical district that attracts numerous tourists drawn by Mughal-era landmarks and lively markets for food, textiles, and spices. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh issued a strong statement following the Red Fort blast, declaring that “those responsible for Delhi blast won’t be spared” and assuring comprehensive investigation.​
Closing Assessment
The Red Fort blast has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the capital’s security architecture while highlighting the devastating human cost of such attacks on innocent traders and commuters going about their daily lives. As investigations continue under UAPA provisions with multiple agencies coordinating efforts, the incident serves as a stark reminder of ongoing security challenges facing metropolitan centers. The recovery of nearly 3,000 kg of explosives from Faridabad mere hours before the Red Fort blast underscores the sophisticated planning potentially involved in this operation.
For families like Nauman’s from Shamli and the Agarwal family from Amroha, the Red Fort blast has transformed routine business travel into irreversible tragedy, leaving communities across Uttar Pradesh mourning losses that extend far beyond statistics. The coming days will prove crucial as forensic analysis and intelligence gathering reveal whether the Red Fort blast represents an isolated incident or part of a broader security threat requiring sustained vigilance.
