A powerful blast near Delhi’s Red Fort shattered the evening calm, initially mistaken for a transformer or cylinder burst by locals. Wedding celebrations nearby continued amid disbelief as chaos erupted. The explosion, which gutted vehicles and critically injured many, claimed at least eight lives, raising fears of a terror strike. Security personnel near Red Fort in the wake of a blast which claimed the lives of at least 8 people and injured several, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore) NEW DELHI: The engagement ceremony of a young couple at Chandni Chowk’s Jain Sports Club continued amid confusion and disbelief on Monday evening — even as a powerful blast ripped through the nearby Red Fort area, less than 100 metres away, locals recalled.Click here for live updates on Delhi Red Fort blast“It was just another day, another function. Everyone thought it was a transformer or something else. No one even stepped out to check,” recounted the security guard of the 1932-established club, where the celebrations were underway.Slow Traffic, Then Sudden Fireball: CCTV Captures The Delhi Red Fort Blast That Killed At Least 10He mentioned that he had been on duty until 6 pm and described the moments after the blast as “chaotic.”“Most of us assumed it was a cylinder burst. Who would imagine something of this scale could happen on such an ordinary day?” he told PTI.Also Read | Doctors’ terror web: How campuses became recruitment hubs, hid sleeper cellsThe explosion occurred outside Gate No. 1 of the Lal Qila (Red Fort) metro station at 6:52 pm, shaking the busy market area. A nearby merchant, who sells jewellery and watches, recalled that the celebrations briefly halted but soon resumed.“There were around 50 people preparing for the ceremony. When the blast happened, they stopped the DJ for a bit, looked around, and went back to celebrating. Most of us didn’t realise it was a bomb blast until we got home,” he recounted.Another man, who repairs watches from a stall barely a metre from the club’s gate, was at work when the explosion tore through the air.Also Read | ‘White-collar terror module, red car’: What’s emerging in Delhi blast probe – key points“I was fixing watches as usual when suddenly there was a deafening sound. Everyone froze, then turned off the music and looked around. I thought it was a transformer blast. I rushed home to Meerut early — I was terrified,” he shared.In the surrounding lanes, rickshaw pullers described how panic spread instantly.“As soon as the explosion happened, people jumped onto our rickshaws,” one driver recounted. “We pedalled as fast as we could toward the metro station. There was chaos — people shouting, pushing, trying to get inside. It felt like all hell broke loose.”Also Read | Delhi Red Fort blast probe: Doctor Nisar-ul-Hassan, fired by J&K governor for terror links in 2023, ‘taught’ at Faridabad’s Al-Falah UniversityThe high-intensity blast, which tore through a slow-moving Hyundai i20, gutted several vehicles and left multiple people critically injured. At least eight people were killed, officials confirmed. If verified as a terror strike, it would mark the first such attack in the national capital since 2011.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRed Fort Blast Had A Bigger Plan: Faridabad Doctor’s January 26 Recces Raise Chilling Questions’R&D Must Be Seen As Investment, Not Expenditure’: DRDO Chief Samir V KamatPenpa Tsering’s ‘No Hanuman’ Remark: Tibet’s Stark Message on Geography, Peace, and SurvivalAfter Spending 16 Years on Death Row, ‘Nithari Killer’ Surinder Koli Set Free by Supreme CourtGujarat: 2 Workers Killed, 20 Injured After Boiler Explosion At Pharma Factory In BharuchDelhi Blast: PM Modi Meets Victims At LNJP Hospital, Promises Swift Action Against Attack CulpritsIndia’s Growth Story Is Built On Scale, Youth, And Resilience, Says World Bank Economist’You Don’t Have Talent in US’: Donald Trump’s Shocking Shift on H-1B Visa Policy DebateHow Kashmir’s Jaish Posters Led To Delhi’s Red Fort Blast And Exposed A Nationwide Terror Network‘Only Agencies Know the Truth’: Brother of Delhi Blast Accused Breaks Silence123PhotostoriesKriti Sanon’s blush pink saree whispers romance!8 Italian concepts that will change your lifeInside the Taj Mahal’s locked chambers: What is the real reason behind the closed doors of the monumentFrom chopping to cleaning: 5 Kitchen basics every child should master early5 foods to combine with pumpkin for effective weight loss7 classic Indian baby names inspired by music and rhythmGastroenterologist explains the earliest signs of nutrient deficiencyJanhvi Kapoor to Rhea Chakraborty: Top celebrity fashion moments to bookmark for the day6 Rahu and Ketu temples in India that every devotee must visitEgg versus Paneer: Which is a better source of protein for breakfast123Hot PicksBihar Election CandidatesBihar Election ConstituenciesBihar Election 2025Gold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingBabar AzamActor GovindaMLB Trade RumorsStephen Curry WifeDelhi GRAP 3Michael Willis Cause of DeathDelhi BlastStephen CurryJerry JonesMichael Duarte Cause of Death
NEW DELHI: The engagement ceremony of a young couple at Chandni Chowk’s Jain Sports Club continued amid confusion and disbelief on Monday evening — even as a powerful blast ripped through the nearby Red Fort area, less than 100 metres away, locals recalled.Click here for live updates on Delhi Red Fort blast
“It was just another day, another function. Everyone thought it was a transformer or something else. No one even stepped out to check,” recounted the security guard of the 1932-established club, where the celebrations were underway.
He mentioned that he had been on duty until 6 pm and described the moments after the blast as “chaotic.”“Most of us assumed it was a cylinder burst. Who would imagine something of this scale could happen on such an ordinary day?” he told PTI.Also Read | Doctors’ terror web: How campuses became recruitment hubs, hid sleeper cellsThe explosion occurred outside Gate No. 1 of the Lal Qila (Red Fort) metro station at 6:52 pm, shaking the busy market area. A nearby merchant, who sells jewellery and watches, recalled that the celebrations briefly halted but soon resumed.“There were around 50 people preparing for the ceremony. When the blast happened, they stopped the DJ for a bit, looked around, and went back to celebrating. Most of us didn’t realise it was a bomb blast until we got home,” he recounted.Another man, who repairs watches from a stall barely a metre from the club’s gate, was at work when the explosion tore through the air.Also Read | ‘White-collar terror module, red car’: What’s emerging in Delhi blast probe – key points“I was fixing watches as usual when suddenly there was a deafening sound. Everyone froze, then turned off the music and looked around. I thought it was a transformer blast. I rushed home to Meerut early — I was terrified,” he shared.In the surrounding lanes, rickshaw pullers described how panic spread instantly.“As soon as the explosion happened, people jumped onto our rickshaws,” one driver recounted. “We pedalled as fast as we could toward the metro station. There was chaos — people shouting, pushing, trying to get inside. It felt like all hell broke loose.”Also Read | Delhi Red Fort blast probe: Doctor Nisar-ul-Hassan, fired by J&K governor for terror links in 2023, ‘taught’ at Faridabad’s Al-Falah UniversityThe high-intensity blast, which tore through a slow-moving Hyundai i20, gutted several vehicles and left multiple people critically injured. At least eight people were killed, officials confirmed. If verified as a terror strike, it would mark the first such attack in the national capital since 2011.
