Three women suffocate to death in Rawalpindi due to gas leak from geyser: Police

RAWALPINDI: Three women died due to suffocation caused by a gas leak from an instant geyser at an apartment in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, police and rescue officials said.

Initial reports by Rescue 1122 had described the incident as an explosion triggered by a suspected gas leak. However, Rawat police station Sub-Inspector Imtiaz Nazir later clarified that no explosion had occurred and that all three victims had suffocated due to gas leakage from a geyser installed in the apartment.

A Rescue 1122 statement confirmed the deaths and said that another woman was found unconscious at the scene and shifted to a nearby hospital, where she was receiving medical treatment.

According to Rescue 1122, the deceased women were aged 45, 60 and 70 years, while the woman who lost consciousness was 23 years old. The incident occurred in an apartment located in Bahria Town Phase VII.

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Following the emergency call, Rescue 1122 dispatched two emergency vehicles and five rescue personnel to the site. A search and rescue operation was conducted, and the affected individuals were evacuated from the apartment.

Rawalpindi District Emergency Officer Engineer Sibghatullah, quoted in the statement, noted a “significant increase” in gas leak-related incidents during the winter season. He attributed the rise to the increased use of gas heaters, stoves and instant geysers in households, often without proper ventilation or safety checks.

Rescue 1122 advised citizens to exercise caution and avoid turning electrical switches on or off or lighting matches if they smell gas. Instead, residents should immediately open doors and windows to ventilate the area and move all occupants to a safe place outside the building, the statement said.

The incident comes just two days after a deadly explosion in Islamabad that killed eight people, including a newlywed couple, and injured 12 others. Officials had said the blast appeared to have been caused by a gas cylinder, though a detailed investigation was ordered to determine the exact cause.

Following the Islamabad incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken notice and directed authorities to conduct an inquiry, highlighting ongoing concerns over gas safety during the winter months.