Red Fort Blast Leaves Families in Anxious Wait at Delhi Hospital
Dozens of anxious family members kept vigil at Delhi's Lok Nayak Hospital on Tuesday, searching for loved ones injured in one of the deadliest explosions the capital has witnessed in recent years. The emergency ward, typically bustling with activity, was sealed behind retractable barriers with police patrolling the area.
By afternoon, yellow tape reading "Do Not Trespass" topped the barriers, creating a stark division between medical staff treating the injured and desperate relatives seeking information about their family members.
Families Share Harrowing Accounts of Search and Discovery
Among the waiting crowd stood Rupa, her eyes red from exhaustion and worry. Her father-in-law, Vinay Pathak (65), had visited Chandni Chowk on Monday evening to purchase CCTV equipment. "When we heard the news, my brother-in-law tried calling him, but couldn't reach his phone," she recounted. "After searching several hospitals, we finally found him here at 1 am. He was operated on for 7-8 hours but hasn't regained consciousness."
Nearby, Mohammad Sher (50) stood with his younger son Taufeeq, maintaining their vigil since midnight. They were waiting to see Sher's elder son, Shaqeer, who works as a cab driver. "Around 11.30 pm yesterday, we got a call from the insurance firm saying his car was charred and he was admitted here," Sher explained. The family received a glimmer of hope at 11 am when Shaqeer called from an unknown number, reporting that his eyebrows and eyelids were burnt, and his leg was bruised.
Nitin (28) alternated between sitting on a bench and checking the emergency ward repeatedly. His brother-in-law, Shiva Jaiswal (36), had visited Chandni Chowk to purchase supplies for his garments business. "We haven't met him yet but his entire back is burnt, his nose broken," Nitin revealed with visible distress.
Injured Vendors and Workers Denied Treatment
The hospital corridor also hosted several blast victims sporting bandages, hoping to gain entry to the sealed ward for medical treatment. Many were workers and vendors who had just finished their day's work when the explosion occurred.
Bijender Yadav (55), who sells water pouches, displayed three bandages on his forehead, chin, and wrist. He stood alongside Ram Prakash Das (55), a chole-kulche vendor, and Udit (32), who operates a ragda-kachauri cart. The trio had initially visited a private hospital for basic wound dressing before coming to Lok Nayak Hospital expecting better and free treatment.
"We came here as we thought treatment would be better and free but they won't even let us in," Yadav claimed. Their frustration mounted as security personnel repeatedly instructed them to move away, eventually prompting them to leave the hospital premises.
Yadav shared the emotional burden carried by the injured: "When our families called, we lied and said we were fine… so they don't worry."
Daryaganj Family Desperate for Information
In Daryaganj, the family of Mohammad Farooq (55) grew increasingly desperate to meet him. Farooq lives with his parents, wife, and daughter in her early twenties, operating an AC repair shop from his home. His nephew, Aamir, currently managing the shop in his absence, provided details of the incident.
"He was coming back from Kashmere Gate on his scooter when the blast occurred… he came home shaken and in complete shock," Aamir recounted. "It was only after we saw him bleeding from his feet that we rushed him to the hospital."
The family's attempts to visit Farooq proved unsuccessful. "We went to the hospital but couldn't meet him… so we came back," Aamir added, reflecting the helplessness felt by many families affected by the tragic event.
The Red Fort blast has left numerous families across Delhi in a state of anxiety and uncertainty as they await news about their injured loved ones while medical teams work tirelessly to provide necessary care behind the sealed doors of Lok Nayak Hospital's emergency ward.
