A day after 'terror' struck near the Mughal-era mosque, life returned to normalcy On a lazy, rainy Monday noon, the road that leads to Delhi's most majestic mosque from the Daryaganj side was not crowded as usual. The cycle rickshaws that comprise the majority of the traffic going towards Jama Masjid, though, were out in full strength ferrying foreign tourists and some locals sporting skull caps. <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2010/sep/Tourist.jpg" border="5" /> Fear factor: Foreign tourists stand outside gate no. 3 of the Jama Masjid, after Sunday's blast and attack. PIC/Arjun Panwar There was nothing unusual up to the Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, but there was a certain heaviness in the air as soon as one reached the erstwhile 'Machchli Bazar', where the faithful could be seen coming out of the Bab-e-Abdul Ghafoor or the Gate No. 3 of the Mughal-era mosque - the scene of the Sunday's terror attack. The attendance at the afternoon prayers was usual though the post-namaz street discussions were missing. Shops selling fried chicken, Urdu books and cotton kurtas situated opposite the grand red sandstone mosque were open. The purported terror attack on Sunday that included a missed car bomb had failed to kill the famous Jama Masjid spirit though scars of a rude jolt were not amiss. "It is not business as usual," said Mohd Asif, owner of a small-time restaurant. u00a0 "There is a wave of panic and fear in the atmosphere. I don't think it would get any better before the Games," he said. Fatima, who runs a small junk jewellery shop, was worried. "Such incidents affect the arrival of foreign tourists who are our main clientele. They bring a bad name to the country and affect our business. We have had enough of it," said Fatima, a widow and mother of two school-going children. Contrary to expectations, foreign tourists did not shy away from the most popular tourist spot in the city. A number of them were seen riding the cycle rickshaws around the mosque and some of them clicking pictures of the majestic monument inside it. "I love India, but such incidents are distressing. It is not a very cheerful mood here. This part of the city was noisy and crowded every time I came, but I think the attack has had a negative impact on everyone around," said Alvin, a tourist from Singapore. "I think the firing incident has killed the spirit of the place. It might affect the Commonwealth Games," said a German tourist, refusing to be named. NOT RUFFLED The plight of two Taiwanese tourists in New Delhi on Sunday is unlikely to deter New Zealand from attending the Commonwealth Games. The New Zealand Olympic Committee is remaining tight-lipped on the shooting incident, waiting instead for more information.u00a0 However, Prime Minister John Key said he expected the Games to proceed and New Zealand to be a part of them. "One always takes these things seriously but we are also very hopeful that the Commonwealth Games will proceed, that New Zealand will go and do very well," he said in a radio interview.

A day after 'terror' struck near the Mughal-era mosque, life returned to normalcy

Just another day at Jama Masjid

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Just another day at Jama Masjid

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