Six injured in hotel blast in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, At least six people including a woman were injured in a powerful explosion at a commercial hotel located in Blue area of Islamabad on late Thursday night.

The blast reportedly took place on the third or fourth floor of Envoy Continental Hotel. Rescue sources said it was a cylinder blast. Rescue and emergency services rushed to the site of the blast which is located only a few minutes' drive from the Prime Minister House where All Parties Conference is held. The window panes of the surrounding buildings were shattered as a result of the blast. The cause of the explosion has not been verified, but initial reports suggest that it may be due to a gas cylinder. The police have cordoned of the area and are conducting investigations. Three cars in the surrounding area have also been damaged. The law enforcement agencies and rescue teams rushed to the blast site and started their operations, while the police cordoned off the area. The Rescue 1155 immediately shifted the injured people to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for treatment. Inspector General Islamabad Police, Bani Amin told media that blast was of a low intensity. He said it seemed that blast occurred due to gas leakage. He also informed that those injured in the blast were passengers of PIA, who stayed at the hotel due to delay in their flights. Interior Minister Rehman Malik ordered IG Police to initiate an inquiry into the incident. The security was put on high alert after the blast while the security agencies were examining the blast site. It may be pertinent to mention here that strict security measures were already taken as the All Parties Conference met at Prime Minister House to discuss security challenges.