New Delhi: The shops have reopened, the crows have returned and the familiar bustle of Old Delhi continues a year after the suicide bombing near the Red Fort. However, for survivors of the November 10 blast, the physical, emotional and financial scars remain. The explosion took place around 6.52 pm near the historic Red Fort, when a car laden with explosives blew up at a busy traffic signal. The blast, carried out by Dr Umar Un Nabi, an assistant professor at Al Falah University in Faridabad, killed 15 people and injured several others.
Among those affected was 50-year-old Bhola Chaudhary, a physically challenged man who runs a small tobacco shop. He was barely 50 metres from the car when the explosion occurred. Recalling the terrifying moments, Chaudhary told PTI that something struck his shoulder with tremendous force. Unable to run because of his physical condition, he folded his hands and prayed for survival. Police personnel later moved his cart to Jain Mandir, where he stayed for several days.
Another survivor, 50-year-old Vijay Yadav, who runs a water and soda shop, was just 20 metres from the explosion. He believes bending down to pick up a water bottle saved his life. Glass shards pierced his cart and hand, while the explosion triggered fires and panic. Unable to collect his money or belongings, he ran towards the metro station and realised he was bleeding. Yadav said he visited a government hospital the following morning but was refused admission. He later returned to his home in Saharsa, Bihar, where he underwent surgery. “I had to spend Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 for this treatment. I want the government to do something for us,” he said. For small vendors dependent on daily earnings, months away from work have meant lost income, mounting debts and an uncertain future. Shrikant Gupta, a guard at Jain Mandir, also recalled the horrific aftermath of the explosion. “The sky appeared black after the blast, and bodies were scattered around,” he said, struggling to describe the devastation.
A year later, Chandni Chowk has returned to its familiar rhythm. Shoppers throng markets for traditional clothes, devotees visit places of worship, and narrow lanes remain crowded with vendors and visitors enjoying the area’s famous street food. Yet, behind the busy streets and reopened shops are survivors still battling trauma, medical expenses and lost livelihoods. Life has returned to normal around the Red Fort, but for those who witnessed the explosion, the memories of that evening remain painfully fresh.