 "History Today: When bomb blasts at crowded markets, bus rocked Delhi 20 years ago")
One of the deadliest terror attacks in the national capital took place on October 29, 2005. The coordinated attacks killed more than 60 people and injured more than 200 others.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
On this day in 1998, John Glenn, a decorated astronaut and US senator, became the oldest person to fly in space at the age of 77.
Here’s all that took place on this day across the world.
2005 Delhi bombings
Just days before the festivals of Diwali and Eid, a series of coordinated bomb blasts ripped through New Delhi on October 29, 2005. The attack claimed the lives of more than 60 people and injured over 200 others. The attacks targeted busy marketplaces crowded with festive shoppers, making it one of the deadliest terror incidents in India’s capital.
The first explosion occurred around 5:30 pm in Paharganj, near the New Delhi Railway Station, a hub frequented by tourists and locals. Minutes later, another bomb went off in Saraswati Marg in the crowded Govindpuri area of South Delhi. The third and most devastating blast tore through the bustling Sarojini Nagar market, filled with families buying clothes and gifts for the upcoming celebrations. The explosions created scenes of chaos and panic, with flames engulfing stalls and vehicles while survivors searched for loved ones amid smoke and debris.
Authorities immediately suspected the involvement of Islamist militant groups operating across the border. The Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked outfit Islamic Inquilab Mahaz (IIM) initially claimed responsibility, though the veracity of the claim was debated. Investigators later suggested that the attacks were orchestrated to create communal tension and disrupt India’s festive harmony.
The bombings exposed vulnerabilities in urban security systems and led to the strengthening of India’s counterterrorism measures. Security across major Indian cities was heightened, and the Delhi Police’s Special Cell launched a massive manhunt for those behind the plot. Several arrests were made in the following months, with links traced to terror networks operating from Pakistan-administered territories.
Oldest person to fly in space
In 1998, a decorated astronaut and US senator, John Glen, became the oldest person to fly in space at the age of 77. More than three decades after his pioneering orbital flight aboard Friendship 7 in 1962, Glenn returned to space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on its STS-95 mission, reigniting global fascination with human spaceflight.
The mission, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, had multiple scientific objectives — including solar observation, materials testing, and life sciences experiments. For Glenn, the flight held personal and scientific significance. NASA’s decision to include him on the mission was not merely symbolic; he participated in a series of experiments designed to study the effects of space travel on ageing. Scientists compared Glenn’s physiological responses to those of younger astronauts, hoping to understand how microgravity impacts sleep, balance, and the immune system in older adults.
Glenn’s return to space was met with widespread admiration and nostalgia. Having been the first American to orbit the Earth, his second mission embodied both scientific curiosity and the enduring spirit of exploration. During the nine-day journey, Discovery orbited the Earth 134 times, travelling nearly 3.6 million miles before landing safely at the Kennedy Space Center on November 7, 1998.
Glenn’s participation reignited public enthusiasm for NASA’s missions and highlighted the potential for older individuals to contribute to space science. His achievement also bridged two eras of space exploration — from the early days of the Mercury program to the advanced shuttle missions of the late 20th century.
This Day, That Year
In 2015, China announced the end of the one-child policy.
Israel’s army attacked Egypt in the Sinai Peninsula in a fight for control of the Suez Canal area in 1956.
The Republic of Türkiye was established in 1923.
 "'Intense but very productive': Piyush Goyal concludes Brussels visit for India-EU FTA talks")
 "Russia making key advances in Ukraine's strategic hub of Pokrovsk, says Zelenskyy")
 "The India hand in Apple's $ 4 trillion market value journey")
 "Cyclone Montha batters India's east coast; 1 dead, thousands evacuated")
 "'Intense but very productive': Piyush Goyal concludes Brussels visit for India-EU FTA talks")
 "Russia making key advances in Ukraine's strategic hub of Pokrovsk, says Zelenskyy")
 "The India hand in Apple's $ 4 trillion market value journey")
 "Cyclone Montha batters India's east coast; 1 dead, thousands evacuated")
