After two days of curfew, the Pink City slowly started getting back on its feet on Thursday. People could be seen going about their business on the streets and markets after the curfew was relaxed at 4 pm. Markets in the blast-damaged Walled City area also opened partially, with people returning to worship at the temples that had been targeted in Tuesday’s attack.

Many also attended a special aarti that was arranged at Hanuman Mandir, the temple that had borne the brunt of the attack.

Driven by curiosity or perhaps simply to pay their respects, crowds congregated at the spots where the bombs had exploded, and gazed at the devastation caused by the shrapnel, some examining the ball bearings that had been embedded in the walls and streets.

At the bangle market in Manak Chowk, another blast site, shopkeepers could be seen clearing the area of shattered bits of bangles. “The administration has assured us that they will enhance security in the area and will put an end to the curfew within the next few days,” said shopkeeper Shravan Verma. “We want to get started with our work as soon as possible.”

Shoppers are already back making essential purchases. “For how long can we continue to live like this? We have to defeat the terrorists’ plans,” stated Ram Narayan Das.

Even the few foreign tourists who had remained in the city ventured out. “We came to know about the blast when we were at our hotel, but decided to stick on. We plan to leave by tomorrow,” said American tourist Joshua Perry.

... contd.