Monday evening was busy as usual near the Red Fort metro station in Delhi when the sound of a loud blast broke through the cacophony of the streets.
An explosion in a car killed at least eight people and injured more than twenty. Its ferocity was such that nearby vehicles appeared to melt from the heat, with the sound reverberating for kilometers.
Police are investigating the causes of the blast, which has shocked residents given its occurrence in one of Delhi's most secure and frequented areas.
The explosion unfolded in the midst of bustling Chandni Chowk—a busy trading hub—on one side, and the historic Red Fort attracting numerous tourists on the other.
As chaos unfolded on the street, eyewitness Mohamed Hafiz recounted how the force of the blast shook his home and caused mass panic. There was blood everywhere, he said, describing a scene filled with burning vehicles and the injured.
The news swiftly rippled through the city, prompting police to declare a high alert status as fears mounted in neighboring states.
In the aftermath, vehicular traffic was heavily scrutinized at city perimeters, and many locals expressed unease about security in a city long considered safe.
Mohammed Azghar, a local resident searching for his missing brother, expressed his yearning for news regarding loved ones caught in the explosion's wake. We can't find him. I just want some news—good or bad, he said, underscoring the human cost of this tragedy.
As the community grapples with this tragic event, many are hopeful for a swift return to normalcy and assurance of safety in their city.
