Newlyweds among eight killed in Islamabad gas cylinder blast

Explosion in G-7/2 damages nearby houses; 11 injured as rescue operation completed, officials say

ISLAMABAD:

At least eight people, including a newly married couple, were killed on Sunday when a gas cylinder exploded at a house in Islamabad’s G-7/2 sector where a wedding ceremony was under way, officials said.

The blast occurred while guests were present at the house, according to Additional Deputy Commissioner General Sahibzada Yousaf. He said the explosion caused extensive damage to four neighbouring houses and that all people trapped under the rubble had been recovered.

Rescue teams pulled 19 people from the debris. Of them, eight have died, while 11 others were injured and shifted to hospital.

Officials confirmed that the deceased include the bride and groom, their mother, uncle, aunt, and cousin, as well as two neighbours, Waseem and Naeem.

The injured were taken to the Capital Hospital and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where an emergency was imposed to ensure immediate medical treatment.

Rescue operations being conducted after a gas cylinder explosion occurres in Islamabad’s G-7/2 sector Photo: Express

An emergency has been imposed at PIMS Hospital on the instructions of the Executive Director PIMS, according to hospital spokesperson Dr Aneesa Jalil.

A total of 11 injured people, including two children, were also shifted to the hospital, Dr Jalil confirmed and most of the injured sustained severe injuries due to the collapse of the roof following the explosion.

Treatment of the injured is ongoing in the orthopaedic, burn centre and neurology departments.

Deputy Commissioner Yousaf said the rescue operation had been completed and no one remained trapped under the rubble. He added that sniffer dogs and modern equipment were used during the search operation to ensure all victims were recovered.

Islamabad Police said Deputy Inspector General Muhammad Jawad Tariq reached the site and personally supervised the ongoing rescue operation. Senior police officers were also present at the scene alongside rescue teams.

In a statement, the police said the area had been completely cordoned off, the injured were being provided medical assistance and further investigation into the incident was under way. The DIG urged citizens to cooperate with rescue teams during emergency operations.

Read: Infant dies, two women among four sustain injuries in Rawalpindi fire incidents

Authorities launched an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the explosion, while the Islamabad deputy commissioner directed senior officials to oversee rescue and relief efforts at the site are nearly complete after six hours.

The Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa confirmed that the incident occurred due to a gas leak. "Eight casualties have been reported so far, but none of the injured are in critical condition," he added.

The explosion, Randhawa noted, is a type of incident that sometimes occurs in winter, and he urged citizens not to use gas at night. "One injured person has been shifted to the burn centre, and the CDA is supporting affected families," he said.

He praised the prompt start of the rescue operation and said authorities would prevent residents from staying in homes with structural cracks.

Responding to questions about illegal constructions, he said it was not the time to assign blame, but added that unauthorised buildings would be reviewed as part of the investigation.

The Chairman confirmed that the Prime Minister and Interior Minister have been briefed and that an official inquiry has begun. “Our current focus is entirely on rescue and relief efforts,” he said.

On the instructions of the Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the scope of the investigation has been expanded. Investigators are taking statements from the bomb disposal squad, forensic teams, CDA rescue personnel, and building control officials. The site has been fully sealed, and teams have begun collecting all evidence.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. He directed health authorities to ensure the best possible medical care and ordered the Interior Secretary to conduct a full investigation.

Read more: Two die in gas explosions

President Asif Ali Zardari has called the incident tragic and deeply distressing, and directed relevant regulators to ensure strict enforcement of safety standards relating to the manufacture, quality and use of gas cylinders.

He also instructed provincial governments and the Islamabad administration to launch public awareness campaigns on the safe use of gas cylinders. “The protection of human life is the state’s foremost responsibility, and effective measures are essential to prevent such tragedies,” he said.

PM Shehbaz offered prayers for the deceased and extended condolences to their families, while urging the Islamabad administration to raise awareness on gas cylinder safety.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and conveyed sympathy to all affected by the incident. The minister has directed authorities to ensure that the injured receive the highest standard of medical care.

The incident comes amid a series of gas-related accidents reported in recent weeks. On January 8, three separate explosions caused by gas leakage and fire were reported in different areas of Rawalpindi, killing a three-month-old baby and injuring four others, including two women.

Earlier, on December 17, a woman was killed and 14 people, including children, were injured when roofs and walls of three houses collapsed following a liquefied petroleum gas cylinder explosion in the Labour Colony area of Larkana. The blast also damaged neighbouring houses, and Yasmeen, the wife of a resident, Qurban Mugheri, died in the incident.