Eyewitness Accounts: The Devastating Red Fort Explosion That Left Delhi in Shock

"The smell of smoke and burnt metal was everywhere," described a witness to the devastating Red Fort explosion.

New Delhi:

Rajeev Kumar, who sells cosmetics, hasn't been able to sleep since the Monday explosion near Red Fort, with horrific images continuously haunting him.

Before emergency services arrived at the blast site, local community members were the first responders rushing to aid the victims.

Kumar, whose shop is situated near Red Fort, was among those who immediately responded to help after the explosion occurred.

"Initially I thought a gas cylinder had exploded. When I saw injured people bleeding on the road, I immediately went to help a man who was in extreme pain," Kumar recounted.

Two days after the incident, Kumar made his way to LNJP Hospital to check on the injured man whom he had helped into an ambulance.

"Sleep has eluded me for two nights straight. I simply needed to know if that man survived. When you witness something so traumatic firsthand, it becomes impossible to erase from your memory," he explained.

Fizaan, an ambulance driver who transported numerous wounded victims to the central Delhi hospital, described the horrifying experience of handling severed body parts.

"I carried human body parts in my hands. They were still trembling," he said solemnly.

Standing next to his ambulance outside LNJP Hospital, Fizaan recalled the immediate aftermath of the explosion.

"We heard a tremendous noise. At first, we weren't sure what had happened. It sounded similar to a tire bursting. But when our beat officer informed us about the explosion, we rushed directly to Red Fort," he explained.

Imran, Fizaan's colleague who accompanied him in the ambulance, described how they worked together amid the chaos.

"We didn't have time to think. We simply began lifting people into the ambulance. Some victims weren't moving at all, while others were screaming in agony," he recalled.

"There was an overwhelming smell of smoke and burnt metal everywhere. Many bodies were severely mutilated," Imran added.

The powerful explosion tore through a car stopped at a traffic signal near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro station on Monday, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and over 20 injuries.