A catastrophic gas cylinder explosion shattered the early morning calm in Islamabad on Sunday, claiming the lives of eight individuals including a newly married couple who had celebrated their wedding just hours earlier. The tragedy unfolded at approximately 07:00 local time (02:00 GMT) when a liquefied petroleum gas leak ignited, devastating a residential building where wedding guests and family members were sleeping.
The powerful blast completely demolished the structure, causing roof collapse and blowing away sections of walls. The force scattered debris across the property, trapping numerous victims beneath concrete slabs and furniture. Emergency responders worked tirelessly to extract the injured from the rubble using stretchers, while forensic teams in protective gear meticulously combed through the wreckage.
According to police reports, the newlyweds—along with six other victims comprising family members and wedding attendees—succumbed to the explosion. More than a dozen survivors sustained various injuries and were transported to medical facilities. Three adjacent properties also suffered significant damage from the blast impact.
Hanif Masih, father of the groom, recounted the heartbreaking sequence of events, revealing that the wedding party had retired around 03:00 local time only to be awakened by the devastating explosion hours later. The tragedy claimed multiple members of his family including his son, daughter-in-law, wife, and sister-in-law.
Pakistan Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani characterized the incident as ‘heart-wrenching’ and called for enhanced safety measures regarding gas cylinder usage nationwide. Local authorities have secured the perimeter as investigations continue, with deputy police commissioner Sahibzada Yousaf confirming the deployment of sniffer dogs and advanced technology to ensure complete victim recovery.