The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an updated travel advisory for its citizens in the wake of a deadly car explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station in New Delhi.
The explosion, which occurred in a Hyundai i20 car at the Subhash Marg traffic signal around 7 pm on Monday evening, has reportedly killed at least 13 people and injured 21 people.
Details of the Incident and Aftermath
- Casualties: At least 13 people killed and 21 injured.
- Location: Near Gate No. 1 of the Lal Qila (Red Fort) Metro Station on Subhash Marg.
- Cause: An explosion in a slow-moving Hyundai i20 car (confirmed by Home Minister Amit Shah).
- Security: The historic Red Fort has been closed to visitors for three days, and the Lal Qila Metro Station is also closed for security reasons.
Key UK Travel Advisory Warnings
The FCDO has issued warnings against travel to several regions in India, stressing that travelling against this advice could invalidate travel insurance:
- India-Pakistan Border: The FCDO advises against all travel within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border. The Wagah-Attari border crossing remains closed.
- Jammu and Kashmir: The FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, including:
- Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and the city of Srinagar.
- The Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
- Exception: Travel by air to and from the city of Jammu, and travel within the city of Jammu, is permitted.
- Manipur: The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur, including the capital Imphal, due to ongoing curfews and intermittent violence following ethnic clashes that broke out in 2023.
British nationals in the immediate area of the blast are advised to follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor local media for updates.