RAWALPINDI: Three women suffocated to death, while another fainted in a gas leak incident in an apartment at Bahria Town Phase VII on Tuesday.
Police Investigating Officer Imtiaz Nasir confirmed to Dawn that initial investigation suggested that it was a gas leak incident which caused the death of three women and left another unconscious.
He said Khurshid Anwar Khan returned home at about 1:30pm and found his family members unconscious.
Rescue 1122 personnel entered the apartment and found gas odour and an instrument affixed (instant geyser) slightly burnt, but there was no fire. Anwar Khan, owner of a hotel, and his family were residing in an apartment in the commercial building of Bahria Town Phase VII.
According to police findings, the gas leakage started when the geyser’s pipe was damaged due to a small fire and then gas started filling in the rooms.
The deceased were identified as Zeba, 70, Fatima, 45, wife of Khurshid, and Zainab, 60, wife of Muzammil. Noor Fatima, 23, was pulled out alive but in an unconscious state and shifted to Bahria Town Hospital where she was stated to be in stable condition but unable to record her statement with the police.
A spokesman for Rescue 1122 said: “A tragic incident of alleged gas leakage occurred in Bahria Town Phase 7 in which three women died and one woman was shifted to hospital in an unconscious state.”
After receiving the information, Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi teams reached the scene and started rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 issued emergency safety instructions to citizens.
District Emergency Officer Engineer Sibghatullah warned citizens that due to the increasing use of gas heaters and stoves in homes during the winter season, there had been a significant increase in gas leakage incidents.
He said most of the gas leakage accidents were the result of minor negligence. He said if there is a gas smell, citizens should not turn on or off any electrical switches immediately, and should never light matches or lighters. In such a case, immediately open all doors and windows to ventilate the house and immediately move the family to a safe place outside.
Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2026
