Peshawar hotel explosion kills 5 of a family; gas leak suspected

The blast occurred on the fourth floor of a hotel.

Five members of a family were killed and two others were severely injured in an explosion in northwest Pakistan’s Peshawar city Friday morning, police said.

Blast inside a hotel near Bilal Town in Peshawar was probably caused by a gas leak, police say. (Reuters file photo/ Representative)

The blast inside a hotel near Bilal Town may have been caused by an explosive device or a gas leak. Two children were among the people dead.

The blast occurred on the fourth floor of the hotel and all victims belonged to Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Capital City Police (CCPO) Qazi Jamil ur Rehman said, adding that fire engulfed the entire floor after the blast.

He said security forces were looking for evidence to ascertain the cause of the blast.

The Bomb Disposal Squad have also reached the spot, the CCPO added.

The injured are rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital, where their condition was stated to be critical, he said.