The explosion that pulled down a residential building in Soldier Bazaar killing at least 17 people was caused by gas leakage due to sudden high pressure in the supply line, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) said after inspecting the site and examining chemical samples.

BDS officials ruled out the possibility of a gas cylinder blast, saying that evidence collected from the debris indicated the explosion was triggered by accumulated gas inside the house.

According to residents, the area had long been facing not only gas shortages but also occasional episodes of excessive gas pressure. They said gas supply had remained suspended for several days prior to the incident. During Ramazan, many households had filled gas cylinders for sehri and iftar as a precautionary measure.

Residents claimed that late at night, gas pressure suddenly surged. Several people at the scene complained that the pressure at times becomes so intense that stove pipes and even jubilee clips attached to them come off.

A local resident, Rajab, said that not only Soldier Bazaar but surrounding localities had also experienced similar incidents of high gas pressure in the past. He added that complaints had repeatedly been lodged with the utility.

Rescuers and the BDS conducted a detailed inspection of the building. Investigators found that gas supply within the structure was connected through rubber and plastic pipes. Motors had also been installed to draw gas directly from the main line into the building.

Police recovered gas cylinders and suction machines from the rubble in intact condition, further supporting the conclusion that the explosion was caused by gas leakage rather than a cylinder blast.

The in-charge of the East Zone BDS stated that high gas pressure likely caused defective pipes to detach, resulting in gas accumulation inside the premises. “When a match was lit at the time of sehri, the accumulated gas ignited, leading to the explosion,” he said.