Gas cylinder explosion kills bride, groom and six others at Pakistan wedding

A gas cylinder explosion early Sunday after a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and officials said.

The explosion occurred when guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping in the house, causing part of the house to collapse, according to Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.

In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city. A government administrator, Sahibzada Yousaf, said authorities were alerted to the explosion early Sunday and that officials are still investigating. Some nearby homes also suffered damage, he said.

The injured were trapped under the rubble and rescuers had to be carried out on stretchers, BBC News reported. Three neighboring houses were also damaged.

Hanif Masih, the groom’s father, said his wife and sister-in-law also died in the explosion, BBC News reported.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of life and offered condolences to the families of the victims, according to a statement from his office. He ordered health authorities to ensure the injured received the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.

Sharif “prays for the speedy recovery of the injured,” his office said.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders due to the low pressure of natural gas, and such cylinders have been linked to fatal accidents caused by gas leaks. Police said investigations were ongoing.

In his statement, Sharif ordered his administration to “educate citizens about safety measures” in using gas cylinders.

In 2005, gas cylinders exploded in the basement of an apartment building in Pakistan, causing the three-story structure to collapse. At least 25 people died in that incident.