Red Fort Blast Leaves Survivors with Physical and Psychological Scars
The recent explosion near Delhi's historic Red Fort has left multiple survivors grappling with both physical injuries and deep psychological trauma. Among them is Muhammad Faruq, a 55-year-old repair shop owner from Daryaganj, whose life has been permanently altered by the incident.
Muhammad Faruq, who has been a heart patient since 2015, was commuting on his two-wheeler when the blast occurred. "Now I'm scared to take the same route," he expressed, revealing the fear that now dominates his daily commute. The panic caused him to accelerate suddenly, leading to a collision with a pole that threw him into the air.
Permanent Damage and Haunting Memories
Faruq suffered permanent hearing damage in one ear and continues to be haunted by the horrific visuals from that day. "I get reminded of the horrific visuals of the hospital whenever I'm alone or I speak with people about it," he shared, highlighting the ongoing psychological impact.
The trauma extends to 21-year-old Rahul Kaushik, who was pursuing an online animation course before the blast disrupted his life. Like Faruq, he suffered permanent ear damage and has been unable to sleep properly since the incident. "Even if I sleep for an hour, I hear blast sounds and black smoke surrounding me," Kaushik described from his bed, his right leg wrapped in white bandages.
A Friend's Desperate Condition
Kaushik's friend Ankush, who was with him during the explosion, remains in critical condition at Lok Nayak Hospital. The two young men had been planning to visit Gauri Shankar Mandir in Chandni Chowk when their lives changed forever. "We were sitting on our parked bike when the blast took place. I was thrown in the air, and hair on my head, eyebrows and moustache got burnt... glass pieces were pierced on my forehead," Kaushik recalled.
The young survivor displayed remarkable courage during the chaos, dragging his injured friend to safety as fire spread rapidly. "Nobody was helping us... people were making videos, until one rickshaw driver helped me," he recounted, while his mother and sister attended to his medical needs.
Kaushik's father, Purshottam Kumar (45), remains constantly by his son's side. "I don't leave him alone in the room. When I saw him for the first time after the blast he was shivering," the concerned father revealed.
Multiple Victims, Shared Trauma
In Shahdara's 5th Pusta, 34-year-old e-rickshaw driver Alam Azad now walks with the support of a wooden stick. Three steel pieces pierced the right side of his body during the explosion - one hitting his leg bone, another in his thigh, and one in his stomach.
"I was carrying two passengers and was at the Metro gate number 1 when the blast took place," Azad explained. Displaying incredible presence of mind, he removed two of the steel pieces himself before driving to his brother's shop for help.
For Azad, this incident compounds an already tragic year. "My 5-year-old son died two months back in the village after drowning in a lake and now this has happened," he shared. His family in Bihar wants him to return home, concerned about his wellbeing in Delhi.
The blast's impact has driven some survivors to leave the city altogether. Vishweshwar Rai (55), an auto driver injured in the explosion, has returned to his hometown in Giridih, Jharkhand. His friend Abhay explained, "I told him to go back to the village. He was getting anxious every moment, thinking about everything all over again."
Speaking via phone, Rai expressed uncertainty about his return: "I don't know when I will come back, maybe in another 15-20 days or more." His departure was hastened by the recent death of a relative, adding to the emotional burden he carries.
The Red Fort blast, which occurred in November 2025, continues to reverberate through the lives of these survivors, each coping with their trauma in different ways while bearing both visible and invisible scars from that fateful day.
