Bride and groom killed by gas explosion the day after their wedding in Pakistan

A newly married couple were killed when a gas cylinder exploded in a house in Islamabad where they were sleeping after their wedding party, police said.

Six other people – including wedding guests and family members – who were staying there also died in the explosion. More than a dozen people were injured.

The explosion took place at 7:00 a.m. local time (02:00 GMT) on Sunday, causing the roof to collapse.

Parts of the walls were blown away, leaving piles of bricks, large concrete slabs and furniture scattered on the ground. The injured were trapped under the rubble and had to be evacuated on stretchers by emergency services.

Rescue workers said the explosion was caused by a gas leak, which filled the room and then exploded. Three neighboring houses were also damaged.

Pakistani Senate President Yusuf Raza Gilani called it a “heartbreaking incident that turned celebrations into mourning.”

Hanif Masih, the groom’s father, said his son had gotten married the day before and the newlyweds, along with family members and guests, were sleeping in the house at the time of the explosion.

Masih said everyone went to bed around 03:00 local time on Sunday (22:00 GMT Saturday) and woke up to devastation.

Besides his son, his daughter-in-law, his wife and his sister-in-law were all killed.

Police said they had cordoned off the area and were investigating the circumstances of the explosion. Forensic scientists in white suits were sent to sift through the debris.

Deputy Police Commissioner Sahibzada Yousaf told local media that sniffer dogs and cutting-edge technology were used to ensure everyone was rescued from the rubble.

Many Pakistani households use liquefied petroleum gas cylinders for fuel and cooking. Gas cylinders have been linked to other fatal accidents caused by gas leaks.

Gilani expressed concern over the explosion and said more needed to be done to curb the “unsafe use of gas cylinders.”

“Such incidents require relevant departments to seriously shoulder their responsibilities and ensure security measures,” he said in a statement reported by local media.