The United States has said it is closely monitoring the situation following Monday evening’s deadly explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station, which left at least 10 people dead and several others injured.

In an exclusive response to IANS, a US State Department spokesperson said: “We are aware of the explosion near Red Fort in Delhi. We are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to provide consular assistance.”

The powerful blast, which ripped through parked vehicles outside Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, triggered multiple fires and widespread panic in the area. Delhi Fire Service officials said seven fire tenders were rushed to the site, and the blaze was contained within 30 minutes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed on the situation by Home Minister Amit Shah, who also held discussions with Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha and Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Deka. The Home Minister directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to send a team to the scene.

According to sources, the blast left at least 10 people dead and 12 others injured, with the victims being shifted to Lok Nayak Hospital. A high alert has been declared in Delhi, Mumbai, and Uttar Pradesh, while security has been tightened at major installations, including the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.

Officials have not confirmed the nature of the blast, though early assessments pointed to a possible CNG explosion. However, the timing and intensity have raised suspicions of a larger conspiracy.

Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Police had announced the busting of an inter-state transnational terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind in Haryana’s Faridabad district. Police seized 2,900 kg of explosives, assault rifles, pistols, timers, and other materials, arresting seven suspects.

The discovery of the module, followed by the explosion at one of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks, has intensified speculation over potential terror links.

The Red Fort area, a major tourist and heritage site in the national capital, was quickly cordoned off by the Delhi Police Special Cell and the National Security Guard (NSG). Preliminary investigations are underway, and forensic teams have collected debris and vehicle fragments for analysis.

The incident, occurring just a day before the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, has prompted heightened vigilance across the country.

The US State Department’s statement marks one of the first international responses to the explosion, underlining the global concern over security in India’s capital.