Scenes from the explosion (X)

A gas cylinder exploded in the basement cafeteria of the Supreme Court of Pakistan building in Islamabad early Tuesday morning, causing the building to tremble and injuring around a dozen people, according to law-enforcement authorities and media reports.According to Ali Nasir Rizvi, Islamabad’s inspector general of police, the isolated incident occurred in the court’s canteen while an air-conditioning unit was being repaired. He confirmed that “a gas explosion occurred in the Supreme Court canteen at 10:55am (local time).” He added that “experts have also confirmed that it was a gas explosion.”

The IG further pointed out that “there had been a gas leak in the canteen for several days” and that the technicians repairing the AC sustained the most serious injuries, with one technician suffering burns on 80 per cent of his body.Following the blast, around 15 people were shifted to hospital treatment centres; of these, 12 were confirmed injured by the IG. Among them, three were admitted to the Pakistan institute of medical sciences (PIMS) and nine to the Polyclinic Hospital. He noted that “the condition of two individuals is critical.”Emergency procedures were rapidly activated: lawyers and court officials evacuated the building and moved to open areas outside, and the bomb disposal squad screened the affected zone. The building’s canteen reportedly suffered damage to furniture, and the shock-wave from the explosion was felt through the lower floors of the court complex. While investigations are ongoing, the IG called attention to the pre-existing gas leak and the maintenance work being carried out on the AC system as key factors in the incident.