Peshawar Cylinder Explosion Kills Three Children
Three children died after a gas cylinder exploded on Pajaggi Road in Peshawar on Thursday, while a woman and another child remained under treatment at Lady Reading Hospital. The Peshawar cylinder explosion injured five people in total, and all five were shifted to the hospital for emergency care.
Muhammad Asim, a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital, confirmed the deaths. He said three of the five injured children succumbed to their injuries after reaching the hospital. A woman and a child were still receiving treatment, and doctors were providing them with medical care.
The explosion took place in a residential area on Pajaggi Road. The Express Tribune first reported the incident on Thursday afternoon. Rescue teams reached the site soon after the blast and moved the injured to the hospital. Officials had not stated the cause of the explosion by the time this report was filed, and the story was still developing.
What happened on Pajaggi Road
The blast struck during the day, when families in the area were going about their daily routine. Neighbours and passers-by raised the alarm, and rescue workers carried the injured out of the affected building. Ambulances then took them to Lady Reading Hospital, the largest public hospital in Peshawar.
Hospital staff treated all five injured people on arrival, but three children died despite treatment. No further update on the two survivors had been issued by Thursday afternoon.
Police and rescue officials usually examine the site to find out whether a faulty cylinder, a leaking valve, or unsafe storage caused the explosion. No official finding had been shared in this case.
Why the Peshawar cylinder explosion raises safety questions
Gas cylinders are part of daily life in homes and shops across Pakistan. Families use them for cooking and heating, and small businesses rely on them where piped gas is not available.
Explosions of this kind usually follow a familiar pattern. A valve leaks, gas builds up inside a closed room, and a spark or flame sets it off. Faulty regulators, damaged hoses, and cylinders refilled beyond their safe limit all add to the risk. Old or substandard cylinders are a further danger, because weak metal can fail under pressure.
Winter makes the risk worse, as demand for gas rises and households use more heating. Feature Pakistan has reported that gas supply comes under strain in winter across the country, and that Pakistan has sought extra winter LNG cargoes to meet demand. Shortages push more families towards cylinders and unlicensed refilling points.
Safety rules exist, but enforcement is patchy. Cylinders should be checked before each refill and kept upright in ventilated places, away from open flames. In practice, many households never have their cylinders inspected, and many small shops refill them without checks.
A wider pattern of safety failures
The Peshawar deaths came on the same day that a building collapse in Karachi killed one person and injured two more. Feature Pakistan reported that part of a building collapsed near the New Nazimabad Flyover in Karachi, trapping a confectionery shop below it. Two separate incidents in two cities on one day point to the same gap: safety rules that are not enforced until after lives are lost.
What happens next
The hospital was expected to issue a further update on the two survivors. Police were expected to complete their inspection of the site and state the cause of the explosion.
The deaths of three children on Pajaggi Road will add to the pressure on the provincial government to act. Fire incidents have already risen sharply in Lahore as smog builds, and the winter months will bring more heating fires. Without tighter checks on gas cylinders, more families will face the same danger.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the Peshawar cylinder explosion happen?
The explosion happened on Pajaggi Road in Peshawar on Thursday, 5 November 2026. Five people were injured and taken to Lady Reading Hospital.
How many people died in the explosion?
Three children died after the explosion. A woman and another child remained under treatment at Lady Reading Hospital.
What caused the cylinder to explode?
Officials had not stated the cause by Thursday afternoon. Police and rescue teams were examining the site, and the story was still developing.
Why do gas cylinders explode?
A leak can let gas build up inside a closed room, and a spark or flame can then set it off. Faulty valves, damaged hoses, overfilled cylinders, and weak or old cylinder bodies all raise the risk.
How can families use gas cylinders safely?
Keep cylinders upright in a ventilated place, away from open flames. Check hoses and regulators often, and replace them before they wear out. Buy refills only from licensed dealers, and move a leaking cylinder outside at once without touching any switch or flame nearby.
