- By Priyanka Koul
- Sat, 15 Nov 2025 11:47 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Delhi Red Fort Blast: Days after a high-intensity explosion tore through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station on Monday evening killing more than 10 people and injuring several others on Nov 10, Lajpat Rai Market has reopened. The market had remained closed for investigations, and shopkeepers say it may take several days for business and footfall to return to normal.
Everything had remained closed for investigation, but Lajpat Rai Market reopened on Saturday after being shut since the blast. Shopkeepers said it may take several days for business and footfall to return to normal.
Most shops had kept their shutters down following the explosion near the Red Fort, which claimed several lives and led to heavy security restrictions in the area.
Rakesh Kumar, who runs an electronics shop in the market, said he had arrived at the spot just minutes before the incident.
"I came here only two years ago, and that evening I was standing outside when three blasts happened. The first one sounded like a normal CNG cylinder burst, the kind we hear sometimes. But the second was so loud that it felt like the ground had split," he said.
He recalled seeing a fireball after the third blast. "It looked like the sun had suddenly risen outside. It must have been around 6.50 pm. At that moment, nearly a thousand people were inside the market," he added.
Kumar described the initial reaction among people nearby as sheer confusion.
"Somebody said a vehicle had caught fire, so people didn't panic instantly. But then the police quickly blocked the route and asked everyone to move. If they had not managed the crowd, there could have been a stampede with so many people around," he said.
According to him, the first ambulance arrived within 15 minutes of the explosion. "Police were already present in small numbers, but they handled the situation well," he added.
For many traders, the market’s reopening has brought a mix of relief and lingering uncertainty.
"It will take time for things to become normal," said Rajinder Singh, who owns a lighting shop, adding that tourists won't come until the fear settles, and that even customers from Delhi are hesitant.
Several shopkeepers said orders placed for the wedding season were either cancelled or postponed.
"People are scared. Some clients shifted their functions to January or February. There is business loss, but more than that, there is nervousness among traders," Singh said.
With markets around the Red Fort slowly reopening, traders said they were hopeful that normal footfall would return once security agencies complete their investigation and the heat of the incident subsides. "We just want things to calm down. The market is open today, but the fear will take time to go away," Kumar added.
( With PTI Inputs )