A Night of Trauma at Lok Nayak Hospital
Heavy police deployment restricted access to the emergency ward of Lok Nayak Hospital on Monday night, where the survivors of the Red Fort blast were being treated. Family members were barred from entering, forced to wait anxiously outside while their loved ones lay inside, grappling with physical injuries and the profound shock of the explosion that shattered a routine evening.
Stories of Survival and Loss
Inside the ward, the injured lay on adjacent beds, many dazed and confused. Among them was Joginder Singh, a 34-year-old cab driver, who suffered multiple burn injuries. His newly purchased cab, bought with his life's savings just two months ago, was completely destroyed in the fire. "My cab is gone… I bought it with all my savings to make a living, and now nothing is left," he said from his hospital bed, his neck, hands, and head wrapped in bandages.
Nearby, Suman (39) and her neighbour Sarita Saxena, residents of Chawri Bazaar, recounted their terrifying experience. They were travelling together in an e-rickshaw to the Gauri Shankar temple when the blast overturned their vehicle. Suman could not lift her left arm, while Sarita complained that her right shoulder was immobile. Fearing reprimand from their families for leaving the house without informing them, they had come to the hospital alone. "My 11-year-old daughter is alone at home," Suman added, her voice filled with worry.
Kishori Lal, a 42-year-old daily-wage worker from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, was walking towards Matia Mahal market, hoping to beg for a roti for dinner, when the explosion occurred. He sustained a deep cut on his right thigh and an injury near his elbow. The incident compounded his existing misery; he had been desperate to return home for days but lacked the money. He broke down while recounting his failed attempts to call his mother after the blast.
Physical and Psychological Scars
The blast's impact was both physical and psychological. Shaina Parveen, 23, who works in accounts, reported a constant ringing in her ears and a heavy feeling in her brain. She had been at Chandni Chowk to buy a kneecap for her father.
Safwaan, a 25-year-old from Chennai with an auto parts business in Chandni Chowk, waited for treatment for an injury beneath his knee, frustrated by the delay. Another victim, Sameer (26), an autorickshaw driver, was unable to move and wailed in pain, describing the sensation of a cylinder exploding. His brother, Intezar, expressed relief at finding him alive, even though his e-rickshaw was burnt to ashes.
Shiva Jaiswal (32) was another casualty. His brother-in-law, Nitin Kumar, explained that Shiva had opted for a three-wheeler instead of the Metro due to his shopping bags. His wife, Poornima, stood outside the ward, distraught and unable to meet him. "They are not allowing us to meet him. His face is bloodied… We called him so many times but he didn’t pick up," she said, echoing the anguish of many families kept at bay.
