Subhechcha Ganguly 
Families clung to hope through torn sleeves, faded T-shirts, and familiar tattoos as those small traces became heartbreaking confirmations of their worst fears after the powerful explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday claimed ten lives and injured several others.
The chaos and confusion following the blast made the search for missing loved ones agonising. In the aftermath, details like a piece of clothing or an etched tattoo became the only identifiers left behind by the victims.
One such tragedy was that of 34-year-old Amar Kataria, a pharmaceutical businessman from Chandni Chowk. His body was charred beyond recognition, but his family was able to identify him through the tattoos on his arms — “Mom my first love” and “Dad my strength.” Kataria’s father told ANI that his son had left his shop in Bhagirath Palace around 6:45 pm, and the family was informed of the blast when a stranger answered his phone. “We identified him after an inquiry; he had a tattoo on his hand, a chain with a ring, and an earring,” he said. Kataria is survived by his wife and a three-year-old child.
Another victim, Jumman from Shastri Park, was identified by his family through his T-shirt after they searched for him for nearly 20 hours. “His legs were missing, and his body was badly damaged. We identified him through his T-shirt,” his uncle Mohammad Idris told Hindustan Times. Jumman was the sole breadwinner of his family and is survived by his disabled wife and children.
The explosion, which occurred near the Subhash Marg traffic signal close to the Red Fort, ripped apart a Hyundai i20 and damaged several nearby vehicles. The blast’s impact was so strong that it shattered windows and was heard across nearby buildings.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that “all possibilities” are being explored, with multiple investigative agencies now working to determine the cause and motive behind the deadly explosion.
