• Gas cylinder explosion kills couple and family members
• More than a dozen injured, house collapses

A bride and groom were killed when a gas cylinder exploded in a house in Islamabad where they were sleeping after their wedding party, according to police.

Six other people, including guests and family members, also died in the blast, while more than twelve were injured.

The explosion occurred at 07:00 local time on Sunday, causing the roof to collapse.

Parts of the walls were blown apart, with bricks, concrete slabs, and furniture scattered across the floor. Injured people trapped under the rubble were carried out on stretchers by rescue teams.

Emergency workers said the blast was caused by a gas leak that filled the room before exploding, also damaging three neighboring houses.

Yusuf Raza Gilani, chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, described the incident as “a heartbreaking tragedy that turned celebrations into mourning.”

Hanif Masih, the father of the groom, said his son had married the day before, and the newlyweds, along with guests and family members, were sleeping in the house at the time of the explosion. They went to bed around 03:00 and woke up to the destruction.

Masih confirmed that his son, daughter-in-law, mother, and sister-in-law all died.

Police cordoned off the area and began investigating the circumstances of the blast, sending forensic experts in white suits to examine the debris.

Deputy Police Commissioner Sahibzada Yousaf said trained dogs and advanced technology were used to ensure all trapped people were rescued.

Many Pakistani households use liquefied petroleum gas cylinders for cooking and heating, which have previously caused deadly accidents due to leaks.

Gilani expressed concern about the explosion, stressing the need to curb “unsafe use of gas cylinders” and stating that “such incidents require authorities to take their responsibilities seriously and ensure safety standards are enforced.”