Two killed, three injured in Islamabad gas cylinder explosion

ISLAMABAD: At least two people were killed and three others injured after a gas cylinder exploded in a house in Islamabad, rescue officials said on Friday.

The explosion occurred in the kitchen on the first floor of a house in the I-10 sector, where gas leakage triggered a blast and fire, rescue authorities said. Five people, including a woman, suffered burn injuries and were shifted to hospital.

Two of the injured later died during treatment, officials said.

Police and rescue teams reached the site shortly after the incident and launched relief operations, while an investigation into the cause of the explosion was underway.

According to the director general of Capital Emergency Services, the incident was caused by a substandard gas cylinder. The injured were being treated at the burn centre of Islamabad’s Polyclinic Hospital.

Authorities urged citizens to follow safety precautions while using gas cylinders and ensure the use of certified equipment to avoid such accidents.

Deadly G-7 blast raised concerns over gas safety

Earlier this year, a devastating explosion in Islamabad’s G-7/2 sector left eight people dead, including a bride and groom, and injured around a dozen others, drawing attention to gas safety concerns in residential areas of the capital.

While initial reports suggested a gas cylinder explosion, residents later said the tragedy appeared to have been caused by a gas leak, noting that no remains of a ruptured cylinder were found at the site. The powerful blast destroyed roofs and walls of eight small houses in the CDA’s 66-Quarters neighbourhood, an approved settlement for sanitation workers, causing structures to collapse on sleeping residents.

The incident triggered widespread grief and calls for urgent government support for the affected families, many of whom lost their homes and belongings under the rubble. Victims’ relatives urged authorities to speed up debris clearance operations and provide alternative accommodation.

Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and other officials visited the area and assured families of compensation and housing assistance. The Capital Development Authority later confirmed that eight homes had been damaged, with some completely destroyed and others partially affected.

The CDA sealed the damaged houses for safety reasons and said technical teams were assessing whether partially damaged structures were habitable. Authorities also offered temporary shelter and pledged to repair or reconstruct the affected homes.

The tragedy renewed concerns over poor safety standards, gas leaks and emergency preparedness in densely populated residential areas of Islamabad.