One person has died and five others suffered injuries in an explosion that took place on Tuesday morning at Naya Bazar – a whole sale market at Chandni Chowk. The CCTV footage of the event shows a man carrying firecrackers in gunnybags on his head just before the explosion:

The police said prima facie it looks like a firecracker explosion when he placed the bag down to light up a smoke but an official confirmation is awaited.

BCCL

The man who died on the spot was carrying two gunny bags on his head, said the police, adding that the explosion took place when he placed them on the ground. He can be seen smoking in the CCTV footage when the blast occurred. Smoke and debris fill the street as the explosion rocked the area and people can be seen scurrying to safety.

The blast took place at around 10:30 am and the deceased has not been identified yet, said a police officer.

Teams of Delhi Police anti-terror wing, Special Cell, Intelligence Bureau and forensic experts have reached the site of explosion. The area has been cordoned off.

“Prima facie it looks like a firecracker explosion in a jute bag. Though, the nature of the blast is yet to be ascertained as doubts remain if the explosion was caused by firecrackers or cylinder,” Joint CP (Northern Range) Virendra Chahal told reporters.

BCCL

Explosive materials used in making firecrackers have been found at the site of explosion in the area. Window panes of the surrounding buildings were damaged due to the impact of the blast.

“We have recovered those plastic shells commonly used in fire crackers from the spot. But we still need to figure out what was the explosive substance inside those shells. There is no crater at the spot, which means it was not a high intensity explosive,” said a senior police officer present at the spot.

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Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh – who is in Bahrain – reportedly called Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Verma and inquired about the incident and directed him to take stock of the situation in the national capital.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also sought a detailed report from the commissioner and is learnt to have briefed the top cop to immediate arrest those involved in the incident and keep a strong vigil on the area.

Delhi has been on high-alert because of the festival season.