Horror at Historic Red Fort: Car Blast Claims Eight Lives
A peaceful Monday evening near Delhi's historic Red Fort turned into a scene of unimaginable terror when a powerful car explosion ripped through the area, claiming at least eight lives and leaving several others injured. The blast occurred around 6:40-6:45 PM outside Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, shattering the calm of the bustling marketplace.
Eyewitness Accounts: Chaos and Carnage
Shamim, a jacket vendor in the nearby kabootar market, described the moment the explosion changed everything. "The blast was so loud that the buildings shook," he recalled. "There was a huge fireball in the air... the entire place was lit up because of the flames." As he ran toward the Red Fort, he saw a small Ferris wheel on fire with people screaming for help.
Prem Sharma, who has operated his chole bhature and juice stall on Netaji Subhash Marg for 15 years, had a direct view of the carnage. "I saw a couple of body parts fly out from the car and then ran from there," said the Paharganj resident. His worker suffered burns to his left hand, and both his stalls were overturned by the blast impact.
Anuj, who was washing utensils just five meters away, expressed gratitude for surviving. "Pieces of the vehicles flew in the air," he said, still shaken by the experience.
Rescue Efforts and Aftermath
Mohsin Ali was among the first responders, immediately rushing to help the injured. "I saw people on the road with injuries to their legs, hands and other parts of the body," he said. "I picked up an injured girl and placed her in an autorickshaw so that she could be rushed to the hospital."
Dilshad Alam, a food stall owner near Meena Bazar, initially thought it was a cylinder blast. He quickly organized help, working with e-rickshaw drivers to transport two injured men and two children to Lok Nayak Hospital.
The devastation extended far beyond the initial explosion. According to sources, six cars, four motorcycles, and three e-rickshaws caught fire following the blast. A tree and a bus were also completely engulfed in flames.
Miraculous Escapes and Lingering Trauma
Bhupinder Singh, a 48-year-old Noida resident, had a narrow escape while waiting at the traffic signal. "The moment it turned green and we slowly started moving, there was a blast — just two cars ahead," he recounted. He and others abandoned their vehicles, leaving mobile phones behind as they rushed toward Bhagirath Palace to safety.
The most chilling account came from a 12-year-old ragpicker who was filling bottles with water when the explosion occurred. "I saw one car on fire... it had spread to other cars nearby," the boy said. "I saw many bodies lying on the street. I saw a severed body and a man who had been impaled by a rod. I ran away after seeing that."
Police officials who were already stationed nearby managing the crowd immediately sprang into action, cordoning off the area and clearing pathways for emergency vehicles. The site remains heavily guarded as investigations continue into the November 10, 2025, tragedy that has left the nation in shock.
