Delhi Car Blast Tragedy Claims Multiple Lives
A devastating car explosion near Delhi's historic Red Fort on Monday shattered countless lives, claiming 13 confirmed fatalities and leaving numerous families drowning in unimaginable grief. The blast spared nobody in its vicinity—from a humble rickshaw driver to a local trader and two friends simply catching up—transforming an ordinary day into a nightmare scenario.
Families Mourn Their Loved Ones
The atmosphere outside LNJP Hospital, where the victims' bodies are currently kept, remained heavy with sorrow on Tuesday as bereaved family members gathered to identify their loved ones. Visuals from the hospital showed relatives breaking down in agony, their world turned upside down by the sudden tragedy.
While the official death toll stands at 13, authorities confirm that some bodies remain unidentified, adding to the anguish of families desperately searching for their missing members.
Victims Remembered: Stories of Lives Cut Short
Among those identified in the tragic incident were:
- Ashok Kumar, son of Jagbansh Singh from Amroha, UP
- Amar Kataria, son of Jagdish Kataria from Delhi
- Lokesh Agarwal from Hasanpur
- Mohsin from Meerut
- Nouman from Shamli
Ashok Kumar, a Delhi Transport Corporation bus conductor, was the sole breadwinner for his family. His cousin Pappu expressed complete disbelief upon learning about the tragedy. "I read his name in the list and said, 'He is my cousin.' I called around to confirm. He also had a bike, which is missing right now," Pappu told reporters outside LNJP hospital.
The conductor lived with his wife and four children in Delhi's Jagatpur, approximately 15 kilometers from the blast site. According to family members, Ashok single-handedly supported his entire family, including his mother Somwati who resides in their village with his often-unwell elder brother Subhash.
Ashok's sister Bhuri from Amroha voiced the family's anguish: "He was my brother. I don't know how all of this happened. He was coming back from duty. He has three children, two daughters and one son. How will my sister-in-law raise them? This has been done by terrorists; they should be punished."
Friends Reunited in Tragedy
In a heartbreaking twist of fate, Ashok's friend Lokesh Agarwal, a fertilizer trader from Hasanpur, had come to Delhi to check on an ailing relative. During his return journey, he decided to meet his friend Ashok. What should have been a joyful reunion ended in tragedy, claiming both their lives.
Local MLA Mahendra Singh Khadakvanshi confirmed the sad news to ANI: "Lokesh had gone to Delhi to meet his friend Ashok. Unfortunately, both lost their lives in the explosion near Red Fort. This is an irreparable loss for their families." Acquaintances remembered Lokesh as a "kind-hearted and always ready to help others" individual.
Other Victims' Stories Emerge
The mother of victim Mohsin couldn't hold back her tears while speaking to ANI. "...I want justice for my son. He has small children...," she pleaded. Mohsin's brother provided more details: "We got to know around 1:30-2 AM that there was a blast. When we reached there, we saw his body was kept there. We were not allowed to go inside. He has two children. He used to drive an E-rickshaw there..."
Another victim, Nouman, a cosmetics trader from Shamli, had visited Delhi to procure goods for his shop. His uncle recounted the tragic sequence: "Yesterday, he went to Delhi to buy some things for the shop. He went to the market but did not return. He got a call from there, and we were informed that Nouman met with an accident. When we went to the hospital, we saw his body there. We want strict actions against those responsible for this..."
Adding to the family's distress, Nouman's 21-year-old relative Aman also sustained injuries in the explosion.
Investigation and Identification Continue
Authorities continue the painstaking process of identifying all victims while the investigation into the blast progresses. The Delhi Police and other agencies are working diligently to uncover the circumstances behind this tragic incident that has left multiple families broken and an entire city in mourning.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed from Bhutan, he comes "with a heavy heart" and has vowed to deliver justice for the victims and their grieving families.
