Were Chandni Chowk’s Gauri Shankar and Jain Digambar Temples the Real Targets of the Red Fort Blast

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New Delhi, November 10, 2025:
The shocking explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening has raised a chilling question — were the Gauri Shankar Temple and the Jain Digambar Temple the actual targets of the suspected terrorist attack?

The blast occurred alarmingly close to these two centuries-old temples, both located in the crowded Chandni Chowk area. The impact was so intense that the glass windows of both temples shattered completely, leaving behind a scene of devastation and panic.

Glass Shattered Across the Jain Temple

Inside the Jain Digambar Temple, glass shards covered every surface following the explosion. The temple’s office area was left looking like a disaster zone.
Pradeep, a temple official, recounted his horrifying experience to India Today:

“The pressure was so strong that every pane of glass exploded. At first, I thought there had been a gas leak in my room. But when I looked outside, there was chaos everywhere—people were screaming and running.”

He added that the explosion was so powerful that body parts of victims were reportedly found as far as the Gauri Shankar Temple. “Some said an e-rickshaw caught fire, others thought a CNG cylinder or battery had burst… but then we saw people torn apart. It was horrifying,” he said.

Devastation Reached Gauri Shankar Temple During Evening Prayers

The Gauri Shankar Temple, located just a few meters from the blast site, was conducting its regular evening prayers when the explosion shook the entire area. The windows shattered, and panic spread among devotees.
One of the priests described the moment:

“It was the loudest sound I’ve ever heard in my life… the shockwave was so powerful that all our windows flew open, glass broke everywhere.”

Was a Hindu Temple the Terrorists’ Intended Target?

Investigators are now probing whether the Jaish-e-Mohammad-linked terrorist, identified as Dr. Mohammad Umar, intended to target one of the religious shrines. His i20 car, laden with explosives, detonated at a red light merely a few meters away from both temples.

Given the timing and location, officials suspect that the blast could have been aimed at the densely populated religious sites, where hundreds of devotees gather daily.

The force of the explosion and the extent of damage near the temples have intensified fears that Delhi narrowly escaped an even greater tragedy.

As authorities piece together the evidence, one question continues to haunt the capital —
Was the Red Fort blast a failed attempt to attack two of Old Delhi’s most revered temples?