Bride and groom among 8 killed in gas cylinder blast at wedding in Pakistan’s capital

ISLAMABAD (AP) — At least eight people, including the bride and groom, were killed in a gas cylinder explosion early Sunday following a wedding reception at a house in Pakistan’s capital, police and officials said.

According to Islamabad police, the explosion occurred while the guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping in the house, which caused a part of the house to collapse. Seven people were injured.

The explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city, police said in a statement. Government administrator Sahibzada Yousaf said authorities were alerted to the explosion early Sunday and officers were continuing to investigate. He said some houses in the surrounding area were also damaged.

According to the statement made by his office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his sorrow for the loss of life and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. He directed health authorities to ensure that the injured received the best possible treatment and ordered a thorough investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders due to low natural gas pressure, and such cylinders have been associated with fatal accidents caused by gas leakage. Police said investigations are continuing.