NEW DELHI: A day after the blast outside Red Fort, the usually bustling Chandni Chowk market was gripped by the unfamiliar sound of silence. On what would have been a crowded weekday, the lanes stood nearly empty, the shutters were down, and the air felt heavy with unease as people exchanged notes on last evening’s incident in hushed tones.

The explosion, which occurred near Gate No. 1 of Red Fort, led to the area being cordoned off with restrictions on entry, making it difficult for shopkeepers and customers to reach the market. Those who got there found the streets deserted and the usual chaos replaced by quiet conversations of disbelief.

“Chandni Chowk never sleeps,” said a 70-year-old shopkeeper who has run a leather bag store here for over five decades. “But yesterday, it felt like

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