Gas cylinder blast kills eight, injures 20 in Sihala

Eight people have been killed and 20 others injured in a gas cylinder explosion in Sihala Model Town on Kahuta Road located in the outskirts of Islamabad on Tuesday.

Injured were rushed to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Polyclinic hospital and District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi where the condition of many injured was critical according to the doctors.

The explosion occurred in a busy restaurant on Kahuta Road, Sihala Model Town some 20 kilometres from Islamabad, where more than 50 people were having dinner at the time of the blast. The gas cylinder being used by the restaurant exploded and the splinters of the cylinder spread to a very large radius and fire erupted in the restaurant.

Many of the injured received serious burn injuries from the incident. Police and other law enforcement agencies reached the site after hearing the huge explosion and cordoned off the area. Police have started investigation into the incident to find out the cause of the explosion. Eyewitnesses claimed that the rescue teams reached the spot very late, which delayed the rescue operation. While at the initial stage local people tried to extinguish the fire and shift the injured to nearby hospitals for medical aid.

The rescuers from Rescue 1122 were of the view that the number of casualties may increase, as condition of many injured people was critical. Bomb disposal squad has also been called to the scene even though the blast was caused from a gas cylinder explosion.

MONITORING DESK ADDS: Private channel reported that Police had confirmed that it was not cylinder blast but it was planted bomb explosion.