Teams of National Security Guard (NSG) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) have rushed to the spot of the blast near the Red Fort in Delhi even as several parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra, have been put on high alert.
"All agencies, FSL, NIA, are here... Some people have died, and some have been injured in the incident. The situation is being monitored," Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said.
According to the police, the explosion happened in slow-moving vehicle near the Red Fort traffic signal around 6:52pm. The police claimed that there were occupants in the car.
According to sources, the terror angle is being explored in connection with the incident. Home Minister Amit Shah has also got in touch with the IB director regarding the incident.
The Delhi Police Special Cell was also on the spot to assess the situation.
Deputy Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Kishor Prasad said it is too early to say anything.
The bomb disposal squad of NSG, consisting of seven to eight commandos, will be examining the blast residue to ascertain whether any high-end explosives were used to trigger the explosion. According to sources, if traces of explosive material like ammonium nitrate are found, it will help establish a possible terror angle.
The bomb disposal team will also be checking the blast site for detonators and any bomb making material.
"...The police and government should immediately investigate how this explosion occurred and whether there is any larger conspiracy behind it. Negligence regarding Delhi's security cannot be tolerated," former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has been quoted as saying.
The blast in Delhi comes barely hours after the recovery of around 360kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and a cache of arms and ammunition from a Kashmiri doctor's rented accommodation in Haryana's Faridabad.