gas had leaked into the room before igniting.
A newly married couple were among eight people killed after a gas cylinder exploded at a house in Islamabad, just hours after their wedding celebrations.
Police said the couple were sleeping at the property with family members and guests when the blast struck early on the morning of January 11, 2026.
More than a dozen others were injured.
The explosion occurred at about 7 am local time, causing the roof to collapse and blowing apart sections of the building.
Walls were torn away, leaving bricks, concrete slabs and furniture scattered across the floor. Several injured people were trapped under rubble and rescued on stretchers.
Emergency workers said gas had leaked into the room before igniting. Three neighbouring houses were also damaged in the blast.
Hanif Masih, the groom’s father, said his son had been married the previous day. Family members and wedding guests were staying overnight at the house.
Masih said everyone went to bed around 3 am local time and woke up to devastation. His son, daughter-in-law, wife and sister-in-law were all killed.
Police cordoned off the area as forensic officers in white suits searched through the debris. Investigators are examining the exact cause of the explosion.
Deputy police commissioner Sahibzada Yousaf told local media that sniffer dogs and advanced technology were used to ensure no one remained trapped.
The chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, Yusuf Raza Gilani, described the tragedy as “a heart-wrenching incident that turned celebrations into mourning”.
Gilani later raised concerns about safety standards and said stronger action was needed to prevent similar disasters.
He said in a statement:
“Such incidents demand that relevant departments fulfil their responsibilities seriously and ensure safety measures.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed grief over the loss of life and offered condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from his office.
He directed health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation into the explosion.
Many households in Pakistan rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure.
However, such cylinders have been linked to fatal accidents caused by gas leaks.
Police said investigations were ongoing.
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