Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): What began as another bustling evening in the heart of Old Delhi turned into a scene of terror and confusion after an explosion tore through a vehicle near Gate No. 1 of the Lal Quila Metro station. The blast, occurring during peak rush hour, left the crowded lanes of Chandni Chowk gripped by panic and disbelief.
According to witnesses, a deafening noise shook the area just after 6 p.m., followed by flames and dense smoke rising from the street. Within moments, traffic came to a halt, and terrified commuters scrambled for safety. Local shopkeepers and passersby rushed to help the injured before emergency services arrived.
“We couldn’t understand what had happened at first,” said Ashutosh Sharma, who runs a shop close to the site. “There were screams everywhere, debris flying around, and people lying on the road. It was pure chaos.”
Another eyewitness, Shravan Kumar, recounted the horrifying sight of the burning vehicle. “Five people inside were trapped as the fire spread quickly. It didn’t look like a gas cylinder blast — the flames were too intense, and there was a strange chemical smell in the air.”
Saurav Gupta, a devotee who had just left the nearby Gauri Shankar temple, said he narrowly escaped the tragedy. “I was there just minutes before the explosion. It’s terrifying to think what could have happened if I had stayed longer.”
Vishwas Singh, another shopkeeper, described the force of the blast as unlike anything he had ever experienced. “The sound was so powerful it shook my chair. For a second, I thought an earthquake had hit.”
A bus travelling a few vehicles behind the car also became caught in the chaos. “Everyone panicked and started rushing out when we saw the flames,” said commuter Kamaruddin. “People were pushing and shouting — it felt like a stampede.”
Police quickly cordoned off the area and imposed heavy barricading, preventing motorists from retrieving their vehicles. “My car is still there, and I’m not allowed to go near it,” said Simarjeet Singh, visibly frustrated but shaken.
The explosion took place in one of the busiest commercial stretches of Old Delhi, flanked by the Gauri Shankar temple on one side and the Lajpat Rai electronics market on the other — both teeming with evening visitors at the time.
Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the blast, but forensic teams and bomb disposal units have been deployed to examine the wreckage. As investigators comb through the debris, Delhi Police have urged residents to avoid the area and remain calm while official inquiries continue.
This story is developing. Further updates are awaited.
