A gas cylinder explosion at a wedding house in Islamabad’s G-7/2 sector killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, and injured 12 others late Saturday night, police reported.
Police said the blast hit a wedding house in 66 Quarters on Street No. 23. They said the wedding party arrived around 2:00 am. Soon after, the cylinder exploded.
Police identified six family members among the dead. They said the bride, the groom, the groom’s mother, a maternal uncle, a paternal aunt, and a cousin died in the incident. Police also said two neighbours died, raising the death toll to eight.
Building collapses, nearby homes damaged
Police said the force of the explosion brought the building down. The collapse trapped people under the rubble.
They said the blast affected four houses in total. The roof of the wedding house blew off. Meanwhile, the roofs of three neighbouring houses also collapsed, injuring people inside.
Police said rescue teams shifted the injured and the bodies to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and CDA Hospital.
Rescue response and official updates
Additional Deputy Commissioner General Sahibzada Muhammad Yousaf told reporters that authorities received the first call about the blast at 7:19 am. He said CDA teams and police reached the site immediately.
He added that authorities closed all routes in the area with police support. He also said staff from the Building Control Department reached the scene. Crews started checking buildings that were partly affected.
CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa later arrived at the site. He said the rescue operation was almost complete. He also said none of the injured was in danger.
Randhawa said a gas leak caused the explosion. He put the number of injured at 12 and said one injured person was shifted to the Burn Centre. He added that authorities would assist the affected families.
Randhawa said such incidents happen in winter. He urged citizens not to use gas at night. He also said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued instructions and that the interior minister sought a report. He added that authorities launched an inquiry while teams remained focused on rescue and relief.
Safety advice issued after the blast
Rescue administration officials urged citizens to get gas cylinders, pipelines, and geysers checked regularly for safety. They also advised people to inspect cylinders and pipelines before going to sleep.
They warned the public not to press electrical switches or light a flame if they smell gas. They also advised opening doors and windows immediately if a gas leak occurs.
PIMS declares emergency as injured arrive
At PIMS, Dr Aneza Jalil, Deputy Executive Director for non medical departments, said the hospital imposed an emergency. She said two children were among the injured brought to PIMS.
She said doctors continued treatment in the Orthopaedics Department, the Burn Centre, and the Neuro Department. She added that most injuries happened when the roof collapsed.
Hospital sources said two injured people from the cylinder explosion later died during treatment at CDA Hospital. They said this brought the overall death toll to eight.
Prime Minister orders inquiry
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the deaths and prayed for the recovery of the injured. He also offered condolences to the families of those who died.
He directed the health minister, the health secretary, and the PIMS administration to stay on alert. He ordered officials to provide the injured with full medical support and the best available facilities until they recover.
He also directed the interior secretary to conduct a complete investigation into the incident. In addition, he instructed the Islamabad administration to increase public awareness about safety precautions when using cylinders.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed grief over the loss of life in the gas cylinder explosion in Islamabad’s G 7 2 sector. He directed authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical treatment and care. He also ordered a thorough investigation.
Naqvi said the government will support the victims’ families and ensure authorities extend the needed assistance.
Bigger question
How can a single cylinder cause this much ?
How ? Just how ,?
How big was the cylinder ?