New Delhi, Memories of last year’s Red Fort blast lingered over a family in Delhi’s Shahdara, whose house was the only dark spot in the neighbourhood lit up with diyas and festive lights for Diwali on Sunday. Ankush Sharma, 27, a jewellery trader, was among the many injured in the blast near Red Fort on November 10, 2025, which killed 15 people.
A year after the explosion, Ankush, who lost one eye and suffered hearing loss in one ear, is still struggling to recover. With nearly 50 per cent of his body affected, the 27-year-old can now walk a little, but remains largely confined to his home, with two to three more surgeries pending.
The sound of firecrackers and the sight of flames frighten him, bringing back memories of the explosion. His family, too, has been unable to return to normal life, watching him struggle with physical injuries and depression. “His condition has improved only slightly. The family did not celebrate Diwali this year and even refrained from lighting diyas. For another family, the explosion took away its only source of livelihood. With mounting medical expenses and no regular income, the family has fallen into debt and is surviving largely on assistance from relatives.
He is just 27, unmarried, and his career has come to a standstill. His elder brother was bedridden due to health complications, and the family depended heavily on Toman, who worked at a cosmetic store in Chandini Chowk.
The entire family is broken seeing him like this,” Pradeep Rathore, a family relative, said. Their house was the only one in the neighbourhood without festive lights, as the family continues to struggle with the psychological aftermath of the blast, Rathore said.
He cannot go outside or resume his earlier life.
