Monday evening was busy as usual near the Red Fort metro station in India's capital Delhi when the sound of a loud blast broke through the cacophony on the streets.
An explosion in a car killed at least eight people and injured more than 20. It was so powerful that several vehicles nearby almost melted, and people could hear the blast from kilometres away.
The police are still investigating what caused the blast but the fact that it happened in one of the most secure and busy areas of Delhi has shocked people.
On one side is Chandni Chowk - a busy trading and clothing hub that is busier than usual at this time of the year due to the peak wedding season.
Within minutes, confusion and alarm spread from the scene to the rest of the city.
Mohamed Hafiz, who lives less than 200m from the spot, said his house shook and he and others ran out thinking it was an earthquake. There was blood everywhere. People were in shock. The scene was too disturbing - I could even see body parts, he recounted.
As local media broke the news, fear and panic swept through the city. Police declared a high alert, and neighbouring states quickly followed suit.
When authorities began their investigation, a long queue of vehicles was seen at the border as policemen searched each one, illustrating the palpable tension among citizens who could hardly believe that such an incident could occur in their city.
Among the crowd at the hospital was Mohammed Azghar, whose brother went missing after the blast. I just want some news - good or bad, he pleaded, highlighting the personal impact of the tragedy amidst the broader chaos.
Visiting the site of the blast revealed additional horrors: mangled cars, blood stains on the pavement, and a community left shaken by the violence. Ram Singh, a local vendor, expressed his concern for his family's future and the need for prompt restoration of security.
This incident marks a significant breach of safety in Delhi, a city many had believed to be secure. Residents are now hoping for swift investigations and a return to peace.



















