ISLAMABAD: At least eight people died, and 12 others were injured in an explosion at a house in Islamabad’s Sector G-7/2 during wedding festivities on Sunday, officials said.
The officials said the deceased also included the bride and the groom.
According to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil, six bodies and 11 injured people were brought to the hospital, where the injured were being provided medical treatment.
She told Dawn that an emergency was imposed in Pims after the incident on the directives of Executive Director (ED) Dr Rana Imran Sikander.
One of the injured was being treated at the hospital’s burns centre as he had sustained 20 per cent burn injuries, she said.
Dr Aneeza later told Dawn that nine of the 11 injured had been discharged, and among the two at the hospital, the condition of one was “unstable”.
The victim would have to undergo surgery, she added.
Meanwhile, Islamabad Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Sahibzada Yusuf reached the site of the incident after the explosion on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon.
He said while speaking to the media that at least four houses had been damaged by the explosion and confirmed that the deceased included the bride and the groom.
Moreover, he told media persons that apart from the bodies and injured taken to Pims, two other bodies and an injured person were taken to the Capital Hospital.
The explosion occurred at a wedding venue, where guests were also present, he said, adding that all those trapped had been rescued from the rubble by means of “advanced technology”.
The rescue team was conducting further checks using specialised equipment, ADC Yusuf said, further stating that an inquiry had been ordered to determine the exact cause of the explosion. However, he added, the incident seemed to be that of a cylinder explosion.
Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa also spoke to the media and said the explosion appeared to be a result of a gas leak.
“So far, we have concluded that this explosion occurred due to a gas leakage,” he said. “Nonetheless, we will carry out an independent probe into it. We‘ve received instructions from the Prime Minister’s Office to launch a proper inquiry and find out the reasons as to why this incident happened.”
When asked about compensating the victims’ families, Randhawa said, “It’s not possible that there would be any delay in compensating them. However, the verification process may take four to five days.”
He added that one of the houses had been completely destroyed in the explosion, and arrangements had been made for the dead bodies to be brought to a ground near the site of the incident. They would then be taken to a graveyard, he said.
Hanif Masih, the father of the deceased groom, said while speaking to the media that his son’s wedding was held on Saturday, and they had reached home the night before.
“At the time of the incident (explosion), I was present at home but sleeping in a separate room adjacent to the house. I woke up after hearing a loud explosion and rushed to the place of the incident, but by that time everything had already been destroyed,” he said.
He said apart from his son and daughter-in-law, his sister-in-law was also among the deceased, and his daughter and other family members were admitted to the hospital.
Masih excused himself from speaking any further, saying that he was overcome with grief.
A statement issued by the Senate Secretariat said that Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani had expressed grief over the incident that took place “during a wedding”.
He expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
“This is a heart-wrenching incident that turned celebrations into mourning for a family,” the statement quoted him as saying, adding that he expressed concern over gas cylinder explosions.
“Such incidents demand that relevant departments fulfil their responsibilities seriously and ensure safety measures,” he said, stressing the need for an effective strategy to curb the “unsafe use of gas cylinders”. In this connection, he called for ensuring compliance with laws and educating the public about safety measures.
PM Shehbaz expresses grief, orders probe
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of precious lives, prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), PM Shehbaz directed the federal minister for Health, the secretary of health, and the administration of Pims to remain on high alert and ensure that quality medical facilities were provided to the injured until their recovery.
He also directed the secretary Interior to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and submit a detailed report to determine the causes of the incident and assign responsibility.
This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports in the media can sometimes be inaccurate. We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources, such as concerned, qualified authorities and our staff reporters.
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