At least eight killed in New Delhi explosion

At least eight people were killed in an explosion near the landmark Red Fort in a densely populated district of the Indian capital New Delhi, police have said.

The blast occurred in a car near the Red Fort, but the exact cause was not immediately known, and was being investigated, a police spokesperson said.

At least 11 people were injured, TV channels said.

Footage on local media showed flames and smoke billowing from more than one vehicle in what was described as a congested street located near a metro station in the old part of Delhi.

At least six vehicles and three autorickshaws caught fire, Delhi's deputy fire chief said, adding that the flames had been doused by firefighting teams.

Police tried to clear crowds that gathered around the site of the incident.

The Red Fort, known in India as the Lal Qila, is a 17th-century, Mughal-era fort located in the old city and visited by tourists through the year.

A high alert has been declared in both New Delhi and Mumbai following the blast, according to media reports.