Red Fort blast: Uneasy calm prevails across Capital

Delhi woke up to an uneasy calm on Tuesday. The shock of the tragedy that had gripped the Capital the previous evening seemed to fade into silence, with markets across the city returning to a cautious rhythm.

At Connaught Place, the city’s bustling heart, couples strolled hand in hand, families shopped for winter clothes and college students gathered around cafés. These scenes of normalcy almost made one forget the horror of the night before. Yet, behind the facade of everyday life, there was a subtle shift: several shutters remained down and foot traffic was noticeably thinner.

Radhey, a shopkeeper in Connaught Place, remarked, “No, except for it being a Tuesday, there was nothing really different about the day.” Just a few steps away, stall owner Kushwant offered a more candid perspective. “I believe the only area really affected is the one near the blast site. For the rest of us, life moves on,” he said, rearranging his goods.

However, the difference was still evident. In Lajpat Nagar, the usual bustle was subdued, with an increased police presence. Barricades were set up in the central market and the absence of hawkers made the lanes appear wider and quieter than usual. Santosh, a market worker with over a decade of experience, explained, “The police cleared the hawkers last night. The market feels emptier, but it’s not a huge difference — maybe 20 per cent less crowd.”

Others, however, painted a different picture. Pawan, who works in a clothing store, said business was down by nearly half. “Many shops stayed shut today, some because of fear, others because of the barricading and entry restrictions. But we can’t afford to stop. Most of us depend on this daily income to feed our families,” he said. A similar sense of subdued energy prevailed at Janpath, where the usually vibrant street market seemed quieter than usual. Fewer hawkers lined the pavements and the familiar sound of bargaining was noticeably absent.

Sunil, who sells fridge magnets, explained, “People are scared to gather in large crowds after the blast. Business is slow and so is the energy.” An elderly vendor, Ashok, nodded in agreement. “There’s definitely less crowd and less life in the air today. We came because we have no choice, but some of our friends stayed home as they’re too scared,” he said.