Updated on: November 12, 2025 | 7:18 PM IST

On the evening of November 10, 2025, while Delhi was rocked by a high-intensity car explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station, life in nearby areas initially carried on as usual. At the Jain Sports Club in Chandni Chowk, a young couple was exchanging rings during their engagement ceremony, completely unaware that a deadly blast had just ripped through the city less than a hundred metres away.

Mistaken Identity of the Explosion

Family members and guests at the engagement initially mistook the loud explosion for a transformer or cylinder burst, a sound not uncommon in densely populated city areas. Locals recounted that after a brief pause in the celebrations, the DJ resumed the music, and the ceremony continued as planned.

A security guard at the 1932-established Jain Sports Club described the initial chaos: “Most of us thought it was just a cylinder burst. Who would think something of this scale could happen on such a mundane day?” He added that he had been on duty until 6 PM while multiple wedding and engagement functions were underway inside the club. “Everyone thought it was just another day, another function. Nobody stepped out to check initially,” he said.

Nearby merchants shared similar accounts. Suresh, a 50-year-old vendor of trinkets and watches, said, “There were around 50 people at the venue. When the blast happened, they stopped the DJ for a while, looked around, and then went back to their celebration. Most of us didn’t even realize it was a bomb blast until we reached home later that night.”

Ravinder, who runs a watch repair stall barely a metre from the club gate, described the moment of impact: “I was sitting and fixing watches when suddenly there was a deafening sound. I immediately started packing up and running. Nearby, people were still dancing at a wedding function. Everyone froze for a moment, then turned off the music to see what had happened.” Ravinder also initially assumed it was a transformer blast and only realized the severity of the situation later.

Another local clock seller, who requested anonymity, recalled how the shockwave caused shops to tremble. “The bursting sound was so huge that many of our clocks and watches rattled and even fell off the shelves,” he said. A neighbourhood boy was among the first to alert locals that it was indeed a bomb blast. “We were all confused until a local boy ran in shouting that a car had flown into the sky and said it could be a bomb blast. The impact was so strong that everything shook for a second, and a few of our items fell off the shelves. We could not hear anything for minutes,” he added.

Panic in the Lanes of Chandni Chowk

As news of the explosion spread, panic quickly rippled through the narrow lanes surrounding the Red Fort. Rickshaw pullers described scenes of chaos as residents and visitors sought safety.

Sunil, a rickshaw driver, recalled: “As soon as the explosion happened, people started jumping onto our rickshaws. We were pedalling away as fast as we could, towards the metro station. When we reached there, it was complete chaos. People were shouting, pushing, trying to get to the metro station. It felt like all hell broke loose.”

The Blast and Its Impact

The explosion involved a Hyundai i20 car that detonated while stationary at a traffic signal near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station during evening rush hour. The force of the blast gutted several vehicles, injured multiple people, and left a trail of destruction in its wake. Initial reports suggested at least 10 fatalities, with the death toll later rising to 12 as critically injured victims succumbed to their injuries.

Investigators later linked the blast to an extremist module allegedly connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and individuals associated with Al-Falah University in Haryana. The incident prompted immediate security responses, with local police, ambulances, and emergency teams rushing to the scene, while nearby residents and shopkeepers scrambled to assist the injured.

Life Goes On Amid Tragedy

Despite the proximity to a major terror incident, the reactions of people at the Jain Sports Club highlight how normalcy and routine often persist in urban life, even in the face of danger. The initial misidentification of the blast as a transformer or cylinder burst delayed recognition of the event’s seriousness, illustrating the unpredictability of human responses to sudden crises.

The combination of crowded city streets, ongoing festivities, and initial confusion contributed to the delayed public reaction, showing how urban residents often continue daily routines until clarity about a danger emerges.

Broader Implications

The Red Fort blast, besides causing tragic loss of life, also underscored the vulnerability of densely populated urban areas to terrorist attacks. It highlighted the need for greater public awareness, rapid communication, and emergency preparedness so that residents and visitors can respond effectively to unexpected disasters.

The incident has since prompted heightened security measures across Delhi, with authorities monitoring social media for inflammatory content, deploying additional security personnel, and conducting safety verification checks at public places and event venues. The case remains under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with forensic teams analyzing the exploded vehicle and related materials.

Conclusion

While the engagement ceremony at Jain Sports Club continued despite the blast, the deadly incident near Red Fort remains a stark reminder of the thin line between normalcy and catastrophe in urban life. Residents, bystanders, and even participants of celebrations were forced to confront the unpredictability of terror events, reflecting both the resilience and vulnerability of city communities in the face of such tragedies.

The courage of local witnesses who assisted the injured, alongside the ongoing investigative efforts, continues to shape the city’s response to one of the most shocking incidents in Delhi in recent years.