Red Fort blast survivors still struggle one year after attack

A year after a car laden with explosives exploded near the Red Fort in Delhi, survivors are still struggling to rebuild their lives. The blast killed 15 people and injured several others at a busy traffic signal around 6.52 pm on 10 November 2025.

The driver, identified as Dr Umar Un Nabi, an assistant professor at Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana, was the suicide bomber and died in the explosion.

“I couldn't run. I was shivering. I just prayed to God to save me.”

Bhola Chaudhary, a 50-year-old physically challenged man who runs a small tobacco shop, was parked near the Lal Quila police booth, barely 50 metres from the car. Something struck his shoulder with tremendous force, and unable to run, he folded his hands and prayed for his life.

Chaudhary told PTI that police personnel later pushed his cart to Jain Mandir, where he stayed for some days. He had earned his livelihood in the area for 25 years but could not work for nine months after the blast.

He returned to his native village in Madhepura, Bihar, to be with his family and took on debt to restart his shop. He said he wishes the government had looked after people like him.

Another survivor, 50-year-old Vijay Yadav, runs a water and soda shop and was barely 20 metres from the car when it exploded. He believes a momentary movement saved his life.

Some survivors have returned to their small shops and businesses, but physical and mental scars remain as families try to recover from the attack.