A gas cylinder explosion following a wedding reception at a house in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and authorities said.
The explosion occurred in the early hours of Sunday, while guests who gathered to celebrate the couple slept in the house, causing part of the residence to collapse, according to Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.
In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the city center.
A government official, Sahibzada Yousaf, said that authorities were alerted to the explosion in the early hours of Sunday and that police were still investigating.
Yousaf added that some nearby houses were also damaged.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the families of the victims, according to a statement.
Sharif ordered health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.
The police assured that an investigation is underway.
Many Pakistani families depend on cylinders liquefied petroleum gas due to the low pressure of natural gas, and these cylinders have been linked to fatal accidents caused by gas leaks.
