Two killed, three injured in gas leak explosion at Islamabad house

ISLAMABAD: Two members of a family were killed and three others injured in a gas leak explosion at a house in Islamabad’s I-10 area on Friday, according to the capital administration.

The five-member family, originally from Swabi, had been living on rent on the first floor of the house. The explosion took place in the kitchen and was followed by a fire that spread rapidly. A 50-year-old man, his wife and their children suffered burn injuries in the incident.

Neighbours gathered outside the house and alerted rescue services. Rescue workers and police reached the site, shifted the injured to hospital and put out the fire. Two of the injured were later pronounced dead at the hospital. They were identified as Haris, 19, and Shaheer, 14.

The injured were identified as Shahid Ahmed, 50, his wife Shahzida, 50, and their 16-year-old son Zarakh. They were admitted to the intensive care unit as their condition was stated to be critical. The capital administration said the blast was caused by a gas cylinder leak, while a preliminary investigation suggested a substandard cylinder may have led to the explosion. The kitchen and two adjoining rooms were damaged in the incident.