ISLAMABAD (MNN); At least eight people, including the bride and groom, lost their lives while 12 others were injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a house in Islamabadās Sector G-7/2 during wedding celebrations on Sunday, officials said.
According to authorities, the blast occurred at a wedding venue where guests were present, triggering panic and widespread destruction. Several people were trapped under the debris and were later rescued by emergency teams using specialised equipment.
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil said six bodies and 11 injured persons were brought to the hospital. She added that an emergency was declared at Pims on the directives of Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikander to handle the situation.
Dr Aneeza said one of the injured was shifted to the burns centre after sustaining around 20 per cent burn injuries. Later, she confirmed that nine of the injured had been discharged, while two remained hospitalised, one of whom was in an unstable condition and would require surgery.
Islamabad Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Sahibzada Yusuf visited the site on the instructions 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 deceased included the bride and groom.
He added that besides those shifted to Pims, two bodies and one injured person were taken to the Capital Hospital. All individuals trapped in the rubble were successfully rescued, while further checks were being carried out at the site.
ADC Yusuf said an inquiry had been ordered to determine the exact cause of the blast, though initial findings suggested it was caused by a gas cylinder explosion.
Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa also told reporters that the explosion appeared to have resulted from a gas leak. He said a separate and independent investigation would be conducted on the directives of the Prime Ministerās Office to ascertain the reasons behind the incident.
On the issue of compensation, Randhawa said there would be no delay in providing financial assistance to the affected families, though the verification process could take four to five days. He added that one house was completely destroyed and arrangements were made to shift the bodies to a nearby ground before burial.
Meanwhile, Hanif Masih, the father of the deceased groom, said his sonās wedding had taken place on Saturday and the family had returned home late at night. He said he was sleeping in a separate room at the time of the explosion and rushed to the site after hearing a loud bang, only to find everything reduced to rubble.
He said his son, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law were among the deceased, while his daughter and other family members were hospitalised. Overcome with grief, he declined to speak further.
Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident, calling it a heartbreaking event that turned joy into mourning. He stressed the need for strict safety measures and effective enforcement of laws to prevent unsafe use of gas cylinders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed grief over the loss of precious lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He directed health authorities and the Pims administration to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical care.
The prime minister further ordered the interior secretary to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report to determine the causes of the explosion and fix responsibility.
