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Rescue operations underway after gas cylinder explosion in Islamabad’s G-7/2 sector Photo: Express
ISLAMABAD:
A wedding celebration in the federal capital turned into a scene of devastation on Sunday when a powerful explosion ripped through a house in Sector G-7/2, killing at least eight people, including the bride and groom, and injuring 12 others, authorities said.
The explosion occurred while wedding festivities were underway, with guests present inside the house.
Emergency services rushed to the site as debris scattered across the area, damaging nearby structures and trapping people under the rubble.
Rescue teams managed to extract all those trapped in the wreckage, while an investigation was ordered to determine the exact cause of the explosion, which authorities initially linked to a gas cylinder or a leak.
Medical officials said six bodies and 11 injured people were taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), while two other bodies and one injured person were taken to the capital’s hospital.
PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil said an emergency was imposed at the hospital on the directives of Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikander immediately after the incident.
She said one of the injured was transferred to the burn center with 20 percent burns.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Islamabad Sahibzada Yusuf visited the site under the directives of Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon.
Speaking to the media, he said at least four houses were damaged in the explosion and confirmed that the victims included the bride and groom. He added that the rescue operations were carried out using “advanced technology” and further checks were underway using specialist equipment.
ADC Yusuf said an investigation had been ordered to determine the cause of the explosion, although a preliminary assessment suggested it was a gas cylinder explosion.
Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa also told reporters that the explosion appeared to be the result of a gas leak.
“So far we have concluded that this explosion was caused by a gas leak,” he said, adding that an independent investigation would still be carried out on the instructions of the Prime Minister’s Office to determine the precise reasons for the incident.
Randhawa said one of the houses was completely destroyed and arrangements were made to bring the bodies to a plot of land near the site before burial. Regarding compensation, he said: “It is not possible that there will be any delay in their compensation. However, the verification process may take four to five days.”
Grief-ridden relatives gathered at the site and at hospitals as details emerged. Hanif Masih, the late groom’s father, said his son’s wedding took place on Saturday and the family returned home the previous night.
“At the time of the incident (explosion), I was present at the house but was sleeping in a separate room adjacent to the house. I woke up after hearing a loud explosion and rushed to the incident site, but by that time everything had already been destroyed,” he said.
He added that apart from his son and daughter-in-law, his sister-in-law was also among the victims, while his daughter and other family members were hospitalized. Overwhelmed by grief, he refused to speak further.
The tragedy sparked reactions from the country’s top leaders. In a statement, Senate President Yusuf Raza Gilani expressed deep sadness over the incident “at a wedding,” calling it “a heartbreaking incident that turned celebrations into mourning for a family.”
He expressed concern over gas cylinder explosions and stressed that “such incidents require relevant departments to seriously shoulder their responsibilities and ensure safety measures”, calling for compliance with laws and greater public awareness of cylinder safety.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sadness and concern over the blast, calling it tragic and extremely distressing.
In a statement issued by the media wing of the Presidential Secretariat, he condoled with the families of the victims, prayed for the injured and said the entire nation stood in solidarity with the bereaved families.
He directed the authorities to strictly enforce safety rules related to manufacturing, quality and use of gas cylinders and asked provincial governments and Islamabad administration to launch public awareness campaigns on safe use of cylinders.
“Saving precious human lives is the primary responsibility of the State and effective measures are essential to prevent such incidents,” the President stressed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed grief over the loss of lives, prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
He directed the Federal Minister of Health, Secretary of Health and PIMS Administration to remain on high alert and ensure that the injured receive quality medical care until they fully recover.
He also instructed the Secretary of State for the Interior to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report to identify the causes of the incident and determine responsibilities.
