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Rescue operations are carried out after a gas cylinder explosion in Sector G-7/2 of Islamabad Photo: Express
ISLAMABAD:
A wedding celebration in the federal capital turned into a scene of devastation on Sunday when a powerful explosion leveled a house in Sector G-7/2, killing at least eight people, including the bride and groom, and injuring 12 others, according to officials.
The explosion occurred while the wedding festivities were taking place, with guests present inside the house.
Emergency services rushed to the scene as debris spread across the area, damaging nearby structures and trapping people under the rubble.
Rescuers managed to extract everyone trapped from the rubble, while an investigation was ordered to determine the exact cause of the explosion, which officials initially linked to a gas cylinder or a leak.
Medical officials said six dead bodies and 11 injured people were shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), while two other dead bodies and one injured person were shifted to Capital Hospital.
PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil said an emergency was imposed at the hospital following the directives of CEO Dr Rana Imran Sikander immediately after the incident.
He said one of the injured had been taken to the burn center with 20 percent burn injuries.
Islamabad Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Sahibzada Yusuf visited the spot on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon.
Speaking to the media, he said that at least four houses had been damaged by the explosion and confirmed that the couple were among the dead. He added that rescue operations were carried out using “advanced technology” and that additional checks were being carried out with specialized equipment.
Constable Yusuf said an investigation had been ordered to determine the cause of the explosion, although 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 come to the conclusion that this explosion occurred due to a gas leak,” he said, adding that an independent investigation will still be carried out on instructions from the Prime Minister’s Office to determine the precise reasons behind the incident.
Randhawa said one of the houses had been completely destroyed and arrangements had been made to remove the bodies to a field near the site before burial. On compensation, he said, “There is not likely to be any delay in compensation. However, the verification process may take four to five days.”
Heartbroken relatives gathered at the scene and at hospitals as details emerged. Hanif Masih, the father of the deceased groom, said his son’s wedding took place on Saturday and the family had returned home the night before.
“At the time of the incident (explosion), I was present at home 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 in addition to his son and daughter-in-law, his sister-in-law was also among the deceased, while his daughter and other relatives were hospitalized. Overwhelmed by grief, he refused to speak further.
The tragedy provoked reactions from the country’s top leaders. In a statement, Senate President Yusuf Raza Gilani expressed deep regret over the incident that occurred “during a wedding”, calling it “a heartbreaking incident that turned celebrations into mourning for a family.”
He expressed concern over gas cylinder explosions, highlighting that “such incidents require relevant departments to seriously fulfill their responsibilities and ensure safety measures,” calling for compliance with laws and greater public awareness on cylinder safety.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep regret and concern over the explosion, calling it tragic and extremely distressing.
In a statement issued by the media wing of the President’s Secretariat, he expressed condolences to the families of the victims, prayed for the injured and said the entire nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved families.
It directed authorities to strictly enforce safety norms related to manufacturing, quality and use of gas cylinders and directed provincial governments and Islamabad administration to launch public awareness campaigns on safe use of cylinders.
“Saving precious human lives is the main 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 conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
He directed the Federal Health Minister, Health Secretary and the PIMS administration to remain on high alert and ensure that the injured received quality medical care until their full recovery.
He also instructed the Home Secretary to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report to identify the causes of the incident and determine responsibilities.
