A high-intensity explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening killed 12 people and injured several others, leaving one of the city’s busiest historic neighborhoods in shock.
The blast, which tore through a slow-moving car, also gutted nearby vehicles and triggered widespread panic.
Horrific Eyewitness Accounts
Locals described the aftermath as terrifying. Karamjot, a bag seller in Chandni Chowk, recalled the chaos moments after the explosion. “I saw a large number of people running towards me from the Red Fort side. Everyone was screaming. I ran towards the gurdwara and took shelter there until things calmed down,” she said.
JP Mishra, an employee at the Jain Mandir sports club, said residents rushed to help the injured before emergency teams arrived. “When I reached the spot, I saw dismembered bodies everywhere. Some of the body parts even came under my feet,” he said, his voice trembling.
Nearby resident Karmayta Devi, 45, said her family could not sleep the entire night. “It felt like an earthquake. The ground was shaking. My 15-year-old son, who saw the bodies lying around, was terrified. Some parts of the bodies even flew into the Jain Mandir compound,” she recounted.
Ten-year-old Priya, who lives close to the Red Fort, described the blast’s sheer force. “Our school is closed today. We couldn’t sleep the whole night. I have never heard such a loud sound before,” she said softly.
Survivors Recall the Chaos
Ram Pratap, a roadside eatery owner from Bihar, was among those who survived. Speaking from his hospital bed, he said: “It was just another evening. A few customers were waiting when suddenly there was a loud blast. The noise was so strong I could not hear anything for a few seconds. Glass shards fell on us and thick smoke engulfed everything.”
Pratap, whose right arm was bandaged, added: “People were lying on the ground, some bleeding, some not moving at all. Blood was everywhere. My own hand was bleeding badly, but I did not even realize it then. We saw death from up close.”
A relative of Pratap, standing outside the hospital, recalled: “There was a flash, then fire, then thick black smoke. I froze. I could not find my brother. People were shouting names, crying, searching for their families. For a few minutes, no one knew who was alive.”
Another survivor, Vijender Yadav, who had just parked his water tanker nearby, described the blast’s impact. “The blast threw me to the ground. When I got up, my clothes were soaked in blood. I saw bodies on the road, pieces of glass and flesh scattered everywhere. People were screaming, some were running, and others were frozen in shock,” he said, his arm in a sling and head wrapped in bandages.
Yadav, who lives in Bihar, added emotionally: “I thought I would never see my wife and children again. This chaos, this fear, it will stay with me forever.”
Aftermath and Damage
The explosion left the area in chaos, with body parts scattered, some reaching the nearby Jain Mandir, terrifying locals and leaving many sleepless. Several vehicles were gutted in the fire, and emergency services rushed the injured to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are investigating the incident as a potential terror attack, while forensic teams and Delhi Police continue to secure the area and examine evidence.
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the explosion, though preliminary reports indicate it involved a slow-moving car packed with explosives.