A powerful explosion rocked the historic Red Fort area in Delhi on Monday evening, killing at least eight people and causing widespread panic, even as a joyous engagement ceremony continued in blissful ignorance less than 100 metres away.
Celebrations Amidst Chaos
The blast occurred at 6:52 pm outside Gate No. 1 of the Lal Qila (Red Fort) metro station, sending shockwaves through the bustling Chandni Chowk market. The high-intensity explosion gutted several vehicles, including a slow-moving Hyundai i20, and left multiple people critically injured.
Remarkably, just a stone's throw away at the historic Jain Sports Club, established in 1932, an engagement ceremony for a young couple was in full swing. The club's security guard, who was on duty until 6 pm, described the moments after the blast as "chaotic."
"It was just another day, another function. Everyone thought it was a transformer or something else. No one even stepped out to check," he recounted, adding that most people assumed it was a cylinder burst.
A Deafening Sound and a Return to Normalcy
A jeweller and watch merchant located near the club recalled how the celebrations only paused briefly. "There were around 50 people preparing for the ceremony. When the blast happened, they stopped the DJ for a bit, looked around, and went back to celebrating," he said. He admitted that most attendees didn't realize it was a bomb blast until they returned home later.
The sense of disbelief was echoed by a watch repairman whose stall is barely a metre from the club's gate. "I was fixing watches as usual when suddenly there was a deafening sound. Everyone froze," he shared. "I thought it was a transformer blast. I rushed home to Meerut early — I was terrified."
Panic and Exodus in the Lanes
In stark contrast to the insulated celebrations inside the club, the surrounding lanes descended into immediate chaos. Rickshaw pullers became the first responders in a frantic evacuation.
"As soon as the explosion happened, people jumped onto our rickshaws," one driver recounted. "We pedalled as fast as we could toward the metro station. There was chaos — people shouting, pushing, trying to get inside. It felt like all hell broke loose."
If officially verified as a terror strike, this would mark the first such attack in the national capital since 2011, casting a shadow over the city and raising serious security concerns.
