Eyewitnesses recall chaos, horror as rush-hour crowd caught off guard

Panic gripped the crowded lanes of Chandni Chowk on Monday evening after a powerful explosion ripped through a moving vehicle.

The blast, which occurred near Gate No. 1 of Lal Quila Metro station, brought traffic to a complete standstill and triggered scenes of chaos and horror. Eyewitnesses said a loud thud was heard and several people were injured. Local shopkeepers, the first responders, immediately called the fire services and Delhi Police.

“We have never seen such chaos. Severed body parts were scattered on the road and people were running to save their lives,” said Ashutosh Sharma, a shopkeeper near the blast site.

Another eyewitness, Shravan, said, “I saw five occupants of the vehicle in which the blast took place being gutted by fire in front of my eyes.” He added that it did not appear to be a normal cylinder blast, as the flames were unusually high and the smell in the air was not that of gas.

“I was saved by just a minute as I had left the Gauri Shankar temple near the blast site,” said Saurav Gupta, who had come to visit the area.

Vishwas Singh, a shopkeeper, said, “I have never heard such a loud explosion in my life. I was sitting on a chair and was shaken by the intensity of the blast.”

A bus was a couple of vehicles behind the car, and passengers promptly evacuated. “We suddenly heard a loud noise and saw flames a few metres ahead of the bus. It felt like a stampede, and everyone was running to save their lives,” said Kamaruddin, who was travelling in the bus.

The police have placed heavy barricading in the area and several vehicles parked along the roadside were not being allowed to be taken away.

“My car is parked there and I am being removed from the site. How will I go home without my vehicle?” said Simarjeet Singh.

The place sees heavy footfall in the evening, the time when the blast occurred. On one side of the road lies Lajpat Rai Market, one of the biggest electronics hubs, while on the other is the Gauri Shankar temple.