Islamabad: A devastating gas cylinder explosion claimed the lives of a newly married couple and six other people just hours after their wedding celebrations, police and emergency officials confirmed.
The blast occurred around 7:00am on Sunday, ripping through a house in Islamabad while the occupants were asleep after attending wedding festivities the night before.
The newlyweds were among eight victims killed in the explosion, which turned a moment of joy into profound tragedy.
The force of the blast caused the roof to collapse and sections of the walls to blow apart, scattering bricks, concrete slabs and household belongings across the compound. Six other people in the house — including relatives and wedding guests — also lost their lives. More than a dozen people were injured, some of whom were trapped beneath the rubble until rescue teams arrived.
Three neighbouring houses sustained damage from the impact.
Emergency officials said the explosion was triggered by a gas leak from a cylinder, which filled the room overnight and ignited in the morning.
Police cordoned off the area as forensic teams, wearing protective gear, searched the debris to ensure no one remained trapped. Deputy Police Commissioner Sahibzada Yousaf said sniffer dogs and specialised equipment were deployed during the operation.
Hanif Masih, the groom’s father, said his son had married just a day earlier. Family members and guests had gone to bed around 3:00am, unaware of the danger. “My son, his wife, my wife and my sister-in-law all died in that explosion,” he said, overcome with grief.
The chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, Yusuf Raza Gilani, described the incident as deeply painful and urged authorities to enforce stricter safety regulations. “This heart-wrenching tragedy turned celebrations into mourning,” he said.
Liquefied petroleum gas cylinders are widely used across Pakistan for cooking and heating. However, poor handling, faulty equipment and weak enforcement of safety standards have been linked to numerous deadly incidents in recent years. Gilani warned that unless stronger measures are taken, such preventable tragedies will continue to occur.
