Survivors Describe Devastating Red Fort Blast in Delhi: "We Witnessed Death Up Close"

The deadly explosion near Red Fort claimed eight lives and left more than 20 people with injuries.

New Delhi:

"People were sprawled on the road, some bleeding profusely, others completely motionless. Blood was everywhere. We witnessed death up close," recalled Ram Pratap from his hospital bed, his right arm heavily bandaged, as he described the devastating blast that shattered the evening calm near Delhi's historic Red Fort.

Pratap, who operates a small roadside food stall from Bihar, survived the powerful explosion that killed 12 individuals and filled the area with smoke and terrified screams.

As he was preparing to close his eatery for the day, the explosion suddenly tore through the vicinity. Speaking from his hospital bed, Pratap shared how ordinary moments transformed into horror.

"It was just a regular evening. Several customers were still waiting when a thunderous blast occurred. The noise was so intense that I temporarily lost my hearing. Glass fragments showered down on us while thick smoke enveloped everything," Pratap explained.

"I saw people lying on the ground, some bleeding severely, others completely still. Blood covered everything. My hand was bleeding significantly, though I didn't notice it initially. We experienced death at extremely close range," he said, struggling to contain his emotions.

A relative of Pratap standing outside the emergency department described being just meters away when the explosion happened. "There was a sudden flash, followed by fire, then dense black smoke. I stood paralyzed, unable to locate my brother," he recounted.

"People were desperately calling out names, weeping, searching frantically for family members. For several minutes, no one knew who had survived," he added.

That same evening, Vijender Yadav had just parked his water tanker nearby when the explosion occurred, plunging everything into darkness.

Yadav, who comes from Bihar's Saharsa district and operates a small water supply business in Delhi, now has his arm in a sling and bandages wrapped around his head.

Speaking outside Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital with a trembling voice, he described the horrific scene. "My tanker was parked roadside. I was finishing up when the explosion happened," he said.

"The blast knocked me to the ground. When I regained my footing, my clothing was drenched in blood. I witnessed bodies on the road, with glass fragments and human flesh scattered everywhere," Yadav continued.

"Some people were screaming, others running, while many remained frozen in shock," he recalled, adding, "That sound continues to echo in my ears." Yadav, who has worked in his business for over twenty years, mentioned that his wife and four children reside in their Bihar village.

"I feared I would never see my family again," he said, pausing momentarily. "I have three daughters. I kept thinking about what would happen to them if I didn't survive. I still don't understand how I made it. This trauma and fear will remain with me forever." The powerful blast, which tore through a slow-moving vehicle near the Red Fort Metro station on Monday evening, damaged multiple vehicles and injured many people. Several critically wounded victims later died, bringing the total death count to 12.