'Still See Fire When I Close My Eyes': This Delhi Man Was Just Inches Away From The i20 Car

Last Updated:November 12, 2025, 19:44 IST

When he regained consciousness after the blast, Rahul found himself surrounded by chaos with flames rising from vehicles and injured people screaming for help

Doctors said that one of Rahul's legs suffered severe burns, and he has lost partial hearing in one ear. (News18 Hindi)

A regular temple visit turned into a nightmare for 23-year-old Rahul Kaushik of Shahdara after a bomb explosion rocked Delhi’s Red Fort area. Though Rahul narrowly escaped the devastating blast, it left him injured and deeply shaken.

Rahul and his close friend, 28-year-old jeweller Ankush Sharma, had set out from Rohtas Nagar on a motorcycle, planning to visit the historic Gauri Shankar Temple near Red Fort. As they waited at a traffic signal, an i20 car stopped ahead of them. Within moments, a deafening explosion ripped through the air.

“The sound was so loud that I couldn’t hear anything. I felt like I was flying," Rahul told Local18, recalling how the shockwave threw him nearly 500 metres from the site. When he regained consciousness, he found himself surrounded by chaos with flames rising from vehicles, injured people screaming for help, and the acrid smell of burning fuel and metal.

Badly bruised and dazed, Rahul began frantically searching for Ankush. “Everything was burning… I didn’t know if he was alive," he said, his voice trembling. A passing rickshaw driver stopped to help, and together they rushed both men to Lok Nayak Hospital. Later, Rahul’s father shifted him to GTB Hospital, where he recevied further treatment.

Doctors said that one of his legs suffered severe burns, and he has lost partial hearing in one ear. His hair and skin were singed by the heat of the blast. When Local18 visited his home, his sister was gently feeding him as he sat in silence, still unable to eat or speak much. “He’s alive, that’s what matters," she said, holding back tears.

Rahul, who is currently studying animation, said that the horror of Monday night keeps replaying in his mind. “Whenever I close my eyes, I see the bodies, the fire, the noise. I can’t forget it," he said.

The deadly bomb blast near Red Fort on Monday, November 10, left at least 12 dead and several others injured. Investigations are currently underway, with forensic teams examining the remains of the i20 car to determine the nature of the explosive used.

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