Red Fort blast | ‘Mera bhai chala gaya’: Death and despair as families search for loved ones at Lok Nayak Hospital

For several hours after 7 pm, victims of the blast continued to come in – at least 30 in all, the last of whom came at 11.30 pm. Some came in ambulances, others in battery rickshaws.

Eight of the victims were already dead when they were brought in.

Sources said at least three of the bodies had their upper bodies missing; the face of one was charred. “We have been unable to identify them,” an official said.

At least 15 doctors and 20 paramedical staff worked inside the emergency room, and 10 doctors in the main casualty ward, dressing the patients, and putting them through diagnostic procedures.

“Mera bhai chala gaya,” wailed a woman, holding on to her husband’s shoulder. The husband, Nazim (25), said his brother-in-law was at the spot when the incident happened. “We saw the news on TV and we called him but he did not take the call,” he said.

Amar Kataria (35) was coming from his pharmacy in Chandni Chowk market to take the metro from Red Fort when the blast happened. He had severe head injuries. His nephew said he got a call from a stranger who took him to hospital. Kataria was one of the deceased.

Another person who lost his life was 34-year-old Ashok Kumar.

Ashok had come to the metro station to meet an acquaintance from his village. Ashok worked for a private company. The man whom he had come to meet, Lokesh, was still missing.

64-year-old Sandeep Kumar, who knew both men, said: “I was called by someone from Red Fort. Lokesh ka phone Red Fort chowki pe mila, par woh nahin mil raha,” (Lokesh’s phone was found at the Red Fort chowki, but he was not found), Kumar said.