- Cylinder explosion collapses house in G-7/2, say police.
- Four houses affected; three neighbouring roofs collapsed.
- Bomb disposal squad reviews circumstances as rescue continues.
ISLAMABAD: At least six people, including the bride and groom, were killed and 11 others injured when a gas cylinder exploded at a wedding house in Islamabad’s G-7/2 Sector late on Saturday night, police said on Sunday.
According to rescue officials, the powerful blast caused part of the building to collapse, trapping several people under the debris. Emergency teams rushed to the scene and launched rescue operations, pulling out the injured and recovering bodies from the rubble.
Police said the incident occurred at a home in Sector G-7/2 66, Aabpara, 66 Quarters, Street No. 23 in the Christian Colony area.
They said the cylinder exploded at around 2am, after the wedding guests reached the house, trapping people beneath the rubble.
The bride and groom were among those who lost their lives, and some of the injured were in a serious condition.
Police said four houses were affected. They said the roof of the wedding house blew off and debris fell into the structure, while the roofs of three neighbouring houses also collapsed, injuring people inside.
Rescue teams remained on the ground, and operations were continuing, with officials saying the fallen rubble and collapsed roofs were being checked for people trapped beneath, and that the explosion occurred while people were asleep.
The deputy commissioner, additional deputy commissioner, police personnel and officers were at the site, while residents and other teams, including Capital Development Authority (CDA) teams, were also present as rescue work continued.
Islamabad DIG Muhammad Jawad Tariq also reached the scene and was directly overseeing the ongoing rescue operation, with senior Islamabad police officers also on the ground, police said.
Police and rescue teams were carrying out relief operations in full coordination, while the area was completely cordoned off as a security measure, a police spokesperson said.
Police said the injured were being provided immediate medical assistance and that further investigation into the incident was under way. “Citizens should cooperate with the rescue teams,” the Islamabad DIG said.
