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Eight dead after gas explosion destroys home in Islamabad
An early-morning gas cylinder explosion in Pakistan's capital killed a newlywed couple and six others, trapping victims under collapsed debris, police reported.
Timeline of the blast
The explosion occurred at 07:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Sunday, leveling parts of a residential house where wedding guests were sleeping following the previous night's celebrations.
The roof caved in, walls were blown apart, and furniture was scattered across the floor. Rescue teams extracted injured survivors from the rubble using stretchers.
Victims and survivors
Among the eight fatalities were the groom, his bride, and several family members. Over a dozen others sustained injuries in the blast, authorities confirmed.
Hanif Masih, the groom's father, said the group had retired around 03:00 local time (22:00 GMT Saturday) and were asleep when the explosion struck. He lost his son, daughter-in-law, wife, and sister-in-law in the tragedy.
Investigation and response
Police cordoned off the site and dispatched forensic teams in protective suits to sift through the wreckage. Deputy police commissioner Sahibzada Yousaf told local media that sniffer dogs and specialized equipment were used to locate survivors.
Emergency responders attributed the blast to a gas leak that filled the room before igniting. Three adjacent homes also sustained damage.
Broader safety concerns
Pakistan's Senate chairman, Yusuf Raza Gilani, called the incident "heart-wrenching" and urged stricter enforcement of gas cylinder safety measures.
"Such incidents demand that relevant departments fulfill their responsibilities seriously and ensure safety protocols are followed,"
Yusuf Raza Gilani, Senate Chairman
Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders for cooking and heating, which have been linked to previous fatal accidents due to leaks.
