Wedding turns tragic for Christian family as gas explosion kills newlyweds, six others

Pakistan’s Christian community expressed shock and grief after a gas cylinder explosion during post-wedding celebrations killed at least eight Christians, including newlyweds, and injured more than a dozen others early Jan. 11 at a family home in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

The blast occurred in the early morning hours in Sector G-7/2, a residential neighborhood near the city center, where relatives had gathered to celebrate the wedding of Sharoon Hanif and Mehak Masih. The explosion partially collapsed the house, trapping guests who were asleep inside after the festivities and damaging several neighboring homes, officials and family members said.

According to officials from the Islamabad administration and family members, the explosion occurred around 7:15 a.m., just hours after wedding celebrations had concluded. Many relatives and guests were asleep inside the house when the blast tore through the structure, damaging at least four neighboring homes and sending shockwaves through the area.

Among the dead were the bride and groom, close relatives and neighbors, all identified as Christians. Rescue officials said 19 people were pulled from the debris during emergency operations. Eight later died from their injuries, while more than a dozen others were taken to hospitals in critical condition.

Ambulance crews, Islamabad police, fire services and search-and-rescue teams responded to the scene, using heavy machinery and search equipment to ensure no one remained trapped beneath the rubble. Islamabad Deputy Inspector General of Police Muhammad Jawad Tariq personally supervised the rescue operation alongside senior police and emergency officials.

The injured were transported to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Capital Hospital. PIMS spokesperson Dr. Aneesa Jalil said emergency protocols were activated immediately to treat patients suffering from fractures, severe lacerations and burn injuries. Several victims remained hospitalized in serious condition by Sunday evening.

Authorities said preliminary investigations point to a gas leak from a liquefied petroleum gas cylinder as the likely cause of the explosion. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa and Additional Deputy Commissioner Sahibzada Yusuf said a full inquiry had been launched to determine how gas accumulated inside the house and why safety measures failed.

LPG cylinders are widely used across Pakistan, particularly in urban neighborhoods where piped natural gas supplies are unreliable. Safety experts have repeatedly warned that faulty cylinders, poor ventilation and gas left open overnight can lead to deadly explosions — a risk that increases during winter months, when homes are more tightly sealed and heating use rises.

For Hanif Masih, a Christian man in his mid-50s and father of the groom, the explosion wiped out nearly his entire immediate family.

Speaking briefly to reporters, Masih said he had been sleeping in a small room adjacent to the main house while most family members and guests were inside.

“I heard a blast and rushed towards the house,” he said. “Everything had been destroyed. Because of this explosion, I have lost my newlywed son and his wife, my wife, and my other daughter-in-law. My daughter has been seriously injured.”

Masih said guests had remained awake until about 3 a.m. following the wedding and were asleep when the explosion occurred. Overcome with grief, he was unable to speak further.

Sohail Romi, a relative of both the bride and groom, told local media that the wedding procession had arrived from Gujrat late Saturday night and that a reception hosted by the groom’s family had been planned for Sunday afternoon.

“To my knowledge, the gas remained open during the night,” Romi said. “In the morning, someone lit a matchstick, which caused the gas to catch fire and led to the explosion.”

Six of the victims were buried Sunday evening at the Christian graveyard in Sector H-8, while the remaining two were laid to rest Monday.

The blast also killed two Christian brothers, Waseem Masih and Naeem Masih, who lived in a neighboring house. William Pervez, a local resident, said their father, Yaqoob Masih, was out of the city when the roof of their home collapsed due to the explosion, killing both sons instantly.

National leaders expressed sorrow over the tragedy.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences to the bereaved families and directed health authorities to provide the best possible care to the injured. President Asif Ali Zardari described the incident as “tragic and deeply distressing” and urged stricter enforcement of gas safety regulations. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also conveyed condolences and called for accountability.