Monday evening was busy as usual near the Red Fort metro station in India's capital Delhi when the sound of a loud blast broke through the cacophony on the streets. An explosion in a car killed at least eight people and injured more than 20. It was so powerful that several vehicles nearby almost melted, and people could hear the blast from kilometres away. The police are still investigating what caused the blast but the fact that it happened in one of the most secure and busy areas of Delhi has shocked people. On one side is Chandni Chowk - a busy trading and clothing hub that is busier than usual at this time of the year due to the peak wedding season. And on the other side is the 17th Century Red Fort which attracts thousands of tourists every day. Sandwiched between the two is the road where the explosion took place. Within minutes, confusion and alarm spread from the scene to the rest of the city.
Mohamed Hafiz, who lives less than 200m from the spot, described how his house shook, leading him and others to believe it was an earthquake. Upon witnessing the aftermath, he described the terrifying scene with people running in all directions, cars on fire, and bodies lying on the road. There was blood everywhere. People were in shock. The scene was too disturbing - I could even see body parts, he recounted. As local media broke the news, fear and panic swept through the city. Police declared a high alert, and neighboring states quickly followed suit.
Witnesses reported a tense atmosphere as emergency services arrived on the scene and assessed the situation. Many were grappling with the sudden loss of loved ones or searching for missing family members, such as Mohammed Azghar, whose brother was last seen in the vicinity of the explosion. He shared, I just want some news - good or bad.
In the aftermath, the sights of devastation remained evident as debris cluttered the area, impacting local businesses and eroding the community's sense of security. Residents expressed hope that the police would quickly determine the cause behind the explosion and restore a sense of normalcy in the city.
Mohamed Hafiz, who lives less than 200m from the spot, described how his house shook, leading him and others to believe it was an earthquake. Upon witnessing the aftermath, he described the terrifying scene with people running in all directions, cars on fire, and bodies lying on the road. There was blood everywhere. People were in shock. The scene was too disturbing - I could even see body parts, he recounted. As local media broke the news, fear and panic swept through the city. Police declared a high alert, and neighboring states quickly followed suit.
Witnesses reported a tense atmosphere as emergency services arrived on the scene and assessed the situation. Many were grappling with the sudden loss of loved ones or searching for missing family members, such as Mohammed Azghar, whose brother was last seen in the vicinity of the explosion. He shared, I just want some news - good or bad.
In the aftermath, the sights of devastation remained evident as debris cluttered the area, impacting local businesses and eroding the community's sense of security. Residents expressed hope that the police would quickly determine the cause behind the explosion and restore a sense of normalcy in the city.
