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New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Tight security was witnessed in Delhi and uneasy calm in the historic Chandni Chowk area on Tuesday, a day after a powerful explosion in a car near the Red Fort. The iconic Lajpat Rai Market, located right opposite the blast site, remained closed on Tuesday following instructions from police and investigating agencies. Traders said the decision was taken collectively in the morning when officials advised them to keep the area clear for evidence collection. A market trader said, “After the blast, many metal and burnt pieces fell on our shops. These could be important for forensic investigation, so the police asked us to keep the shop closed for the day.” Officials from multiple investigating agencies, including forensic teams, began investigating the spot early Tuesday, carefully collecting debris and examining the damaged vehicles. The Central Radio and Electronics Merchants Association (CREMA), which represents traders at Old Lajpat Rai Market, confirmed that the entire area has been sealed for inspection. “Our association has requested all shop owners to extend full cooperation and inform their employees, manufacturers and customers not to come to the area today,” said CREMA president Sanjay Nagpal. He said this would help reduce congestion and allow investigators to work without disruption. The usually bustling market, known as the electronics hub of Old Delhi, attracts traders from all over India. On normal days, the narrow streets here are filled with people and vehicles. But on Tuesday, the familiar sounds of bargaining and shop shutters falling were replaced by silence and the crackle of police radios. As a precautionary measure, the Red Fort has also been closed for tourists. However, other nearby markets including the main Chandni Chowk, Camera Bazaar, Gold and Silver Market and Cloth Market were open. However, tourist numbers remained low, with traders reporting a sharp decline in visitors. Red Fort metro station is also operational, although some gates have been temporarily closed. Police said gate number 2 and another entry gate are open for passengers. At the nearby Gauri Shankar temple, rituals and prayers were held as usual on Tuesday, with devotees offering prayers. Residents of the area, still shaken by Monday evening’s blast, spoke about the tremors felt in the crowded streets of Old Delhi. Subhash Chakraborty, vice-president of the local Residents Welfare Association, said, “The blast was so powerful that the glass panes of many shops were instantly broken.” Nearby schools including Daryaganj and Civil Lines remained open. “There is fear, but life has to move on,” Chakraborty said. “Local residents are fully cooperating with the police and are ready to help in any way,” he said. The blast site near the Red Fort has been cordoned off and traffic has been diverted from Netaji Subhash Marg and surrounding roads. Traders said frequent traffic jams, illegal parking and encroachments in the area have made this narrow stretch particularly unsafe. Rajesh Kumar, who runs a shop in Camera Market, about a hundred meters from the blast site, said, “Even on normal days, the crowd here is unbearable. It became chaotic after the blast.” “Immediately after the blast on Monday evening, most of us closed our shops to ensure everyone’s safety,” he said. Panic quickly spread to the nearby Cycle Market, Watch Market and Lajpat Rai Market, where hundreds of traders closed shops within minutes of the blast. Police teams, sniffer dogs and bomb disposal units continued to sweep the area on Tuesday as investigators searched for clues as to what caused the powerful blast that killed at least eight people and injured several others. –IANS gcb/skp/vd