India, Nov. 11 -- The explosion outside Delhi's Red Fort on Monday evening was so powerful that people hundreds of metres away reported hearing a deafening boom and seeing a flash of red light tear through the night. Within seconds, the usual frenzy at the intersection in front of Chandni Chowk turned into a scene of carnage with body parts scattered on the road, cars engulfed in flames, and terrified people running for their lives.

Residents as far as Daryaganj said that glass panes in their homes rattled, even as windows shattered in nearby homes and shops. Witnesses at the scene of the blast said the force of the explosion flung people into the air. Some even claimed to have seen body parts hurled more than 200 metres away - one repor...