The night that shook India’s capital city

It was a busy evening as usual on Monday near the Red Fort Metro station in the Indian capital, Delhi, when the sound of a loud explosion broke the cacophony.

Explosion in a car At least eight people were killed More than 20 people were injured. The explosion was so powerful that many nearby vehicles almost melted, and people could hear the sound of the explosion kilometers away.

Police are still investigating the cause of the explosion, but the fact that it occurred in one of the safest and busiest areas of Delhi has shocked people.

On one side is Chandni Chowk – a busy trade and clothing hub that is busier than usual at this time of the year due to the peak wedding season.

On the other side is the Red Fort, which dates back to the seventeenth century and attracts thousands of tourists every day.

Between the two is the road where the explosion occurred. Within minutes, confusion and panic spread from the scene to the rest of the city.

Some readers may find the details below disturbing

Muhammad Hafez, who lives less than 200 meters from the accident site, said his house shook and he and others ran, thinking it was an earthquake.

What he saw in the street terrified him: people running in all directions, cars on fire, and bodies lying on the road. Some local residents were trying to help the wounded.

“There was blood everywhere. People were in shock. The scene was very disturbing – I could even see body parts,” he said.

As local media reported the news, fear and panic swept through the city. The police declared a state of maximum alert, and neighboring states quickly followed suit.

As we entered Delhi from the neighboring suburb of Noida, we could see a long queue of vehicles at the border as policemen searched them one by one.

Everyone – the people in the vehicles and the police – looked tense as they seemed in disbelief that something like this had happened in their city for the first time in over a decade.

Beyond the crossing, most of the roads were deserted as we headed to Lok Nayak Hospital, where the injured had been taken.

Outside, a large crowd gathered behind a police cordon. Confusion was in the air, as people searched for answers and fellow journalists speculated about the possible cause of the explosion.

The spectators were puzzled and even frightened. Rajesh Kumar, who works at a cafe near the hospital, said he always believed the capital was the safest city in the country.

He said that although the explosion shook him, he still believed that the security forces would soon discover the cause of the explosion.

“My family in Uttar Pradesh asked me to leave, and they quickly panicked. I’m a bit worried and shocked, but I don’t think Delhi has suddenly become unsafe,” he said.

Also among the crowd were many people who were searching for their missing family members.

One of them was Muhammad Asghar, whose brother was present in the area where the explosion occurred.

He said: “My brother has been missing since the explosion. We have not had any contact with him.”

“We looked around the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, everywhere but could not find him.”

Mr. Azghar said that his brother was driving an electric rickshaw. “The police confiscated the car, which is good, and we don’t mind that. But at least they helped us find my brother.”

“I just want some news – good or bad.”

After visiting the hospital, we headed to the explosion site. It was annoying to see the roads empty here, as the area is usually bustling with people late at night.

There were only security personnel or journalists around. Officials eased restrictions and journalists were able to approach the site.

The scene there tells the story of the explosion.

Scattered remains of cars, rickshaws and tuk-tuks were found. Bloodstains can still be seen on the road. Some of the vehicles were charred beyond recognition.

Some locals also gathered around. It was clear that they were shaken and worried about their immediate future.

Ram Singh, who drives a van to transport goods from warehouses to stores in the area, is worried that business will be affected.

“I earn my living every day and I worry about how to feed my family. I hope the feeling of security will return soon. I hope the police can restore trust very quickly,” he said.

“And I hope this never happens in our city again. We are shaken but we must overcome this.”