ISLAMABAD: A man was killed and seven other people were injured in an explosion at a hotel early on Tuesday morning, police said.

The explosion occurred in the basement of the hotel located adjacent to Rohtas Road in G-8/1.

Several rooms in the basement along with the false ceiling and windows were damaged. Many of the hotel’s occupants were also injured.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing a huge explosion and seeing people running out of the hotel. “At the time of the explosion, guests and the hotel staff were finishing their Sehri. But the explosion forced them to leave the premises,” an eyewitness said.

Police, rescue workers, ambulances, fire engines and the bomb disposal squad arrived at the scene and vacated the hotel and nearby buildings, including a worship place.

The police said preliminary investigation showed that the explosion occurred due to a gas leakage. “The gas came from an air conditioner plant in the basement and caught fire from a spark produced by an electric switch,” said the police.

One of the injured, identified as Motaber Khan, died in the hospital while three out of the seven injured were in a critical condition.

Published in Dawn, July 9th , 2014