Automobile explosion close to New Delhi’s Pink Fort kills a minimum of 8 : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4564x3043+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fad%2F2d%2F1c435c624d50a46ac7453d410dcf%2Fap25314549128724.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4564x3043+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fad%2F2d%2F1c435c624d50a46ac7453d410dcf%2Fap25314549128724.jpg" class="img" alt="Ambulances are lined up at the scene after a car explosion near the historic Red Fort in New Delhi, India, on Monday." fetchpriority="high"/> Ambulances are lined up on the scene after a automobile explosion close to the historic Pink Fort in New Delhi, India, on Monday. AP/AP cover caption

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AP/AP NEW DELHI — A automobile explosion close to the historic Pink Fort in India's capital metropolis killed eight folks on Monday and injured a minimum of 19 others, police in New Delhi stated.

The blast, which triggered a hearth that broken a number of autos parked close by, was reported close to one of many gates of the Pink Fort metro station, the fireplace providers stated. The trigger is being investigated.

Om Prakash Gupta, an eyewitness who lives near the scene, stated he was at dwelling when he heard a loud explosion. "I rushed out with my kids and noticed a number of autos on fireplace, physique elements throughout," he advised The Related Press. He stated he noticed one physique on the windscreen of a automobile.

A cab driver, who gave his identify as simply Shahrukh, stated he heard a loud explosion. "I got here out of the automobile and began operating together with others on the street," he stated.

A former imperial palace, the Pink Fort is a serious vacationer attraction. Native media footage confirmed broken autos and a police cordon on the web site.

Sanjay Tyagi, a spokesman for the town's police pressure, advised the AP that a minimum of 8 folks have been killed, and a number of other others injured. "We're investigating the reason for the blast," he stated. The injured are being handled at an area authorities hospital.

Photographs from the scene confirmed some shattered windowpanes and mangled items of autos whereas plumes of fireside billowing from the burning automobiles.

House Minister Amit Shah advised native media {that a} Hyundai i20 automobile exploded close to a visitors sign near the Pink Fort. He stated CCTV footage from cameras within the space will type a part of the investigation.

"We're exploring all prospects and can conduct a radical investigation, taking all prospects under consideration," Shah stated. "All choices will probably be investigated instantly, and we'll current the outcomes to the general public."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in a submit on social media web site X: "Condolences to those that have misplaced their family members within the blast in Delhi earlier this night. Could the injured recuperate on the earliest."

The Seventeenth-century Pink Fort monument is one in every of India's most high-profile vacationer points of interest. Positioned six kilometers (3.7 miles) from the Parliament, it's the place Indian prime ministers ship their annual Independence Day speeches on Aug. 15.

The investigation is being carried out by the Nationwide Investigation Company, India's federal terror investigating company, and different companies.