Islamabad gas explosion claims eight lives, including bride, groom

A gas cylinder explosion at a wedding in Islamabad killed eight people, including the newlywed couple. The blast injured 11 others and damaged multiple houses. Authorities attribute the explosion to a gas leak, often exacerbated by low-quality cylinders.

Islamabad: A newlywed couple was among eight people who died in a gas cylinder explosion in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, early on Sunday, officials said.

The incident occurred at a house located in Sector G-7/2, where a wedding was underway. Rescue authorities said that eight people were killed and 11 were injured, as rescuers pulled 19 people out of the debris.

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Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil said that an emergency was declared to treat the victims. Islamabad Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Sahibzada Yusuf told the media that at least four houses were damaged by the explosion. He also confirmed that the deceased included the bride and the groom.

He said that the initial probe showed that it was a cylinder explosion caused due to leakage of gas. Dozens of wedding guests were present in the house, which collapsed after the explosion. Rescue teams retrieved several of them alive from the debris, he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. A statement issued by the Senate Secretariat said that Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani had expressed grief over the incident. “This is a heart-wrenching incident that turned celebrations into mourning for a family,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Gas cylinder explosions are common during winter when demand for natural gas increases due to heating requirements. Some of the vendors use low-quality cylinders, which leak due to excessive pressure of the gas and explode.