New Delhi:  Delhi’s bustling central markets have fallen eerily quiet in the wake of Monday’s Red Fort blast, as lingering fear drives buyers away and outstation traders increasingly turn to online orders.

Wholesale hubs such as Sadar Bazaar and Chandni Chowk, normally thriving during the festive and wedding season, have seen a sharp decline in footfall.

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“Usually, this is our peak period as traders from other states come to buy items for weddings and winter. But now, most of them are opting for online purchases,” said Paramjeet Singh Pamma, president of the Sadar Bazaar Association. He added that the market had seen a nearly 50 per cent drop in visitors since the blast, with authorities and market associations jointly verifying workers to ensure safety.

Sanjai Bhargaw, president of the Chandni Chowk Traders’ Association, said business had slowed drastically. “Only a handful of customers are visiting the market. Both customers and traders are still gripped by fear. It will take at least a month for things to return to normal. Some shopkeepers near the blast site are too scared to open,” he said.

Certain markets, however, appear to have bounced back. Sarojini Nagar continued to see a steady flow of shoppers. “We saw a good number of customers yesterday evening as well. There was some quietness on Tuesday, but by Wednesday, the crowd had returned to normal,” said Kuldeep Singh, president of the Sarojini Nagar Market Association.

Meanwhile, Lajpat Rai Market, located near Chandni Chowk and known for electronics, remains largely deserted. “Our shop has been closed for the past two days. We only come to check and then leave,” said shopkeeper Subhash Rai. “This incident has not only affected our livelihood but has created a constant sense of fear that anything can happen anytime.”

The explosion, which occurred near the Red Fort at 6:52 pm on Monday, killed 13 people and injured several others. The blast caused extensive damage to nearby vehicles and scattered debris across the area, leaving traders and shoppers shaken.

Markets across Delhi are now grappling with both the economic and psychological fallout, with traders warning that recovery could be slow.