LAHORE: An explosion that killed seven people and caused panic in Lahore was caused by a gas leak and not a bomb as police had earlier stated, according to officials on Friday. The blast on Thursday wounded dozens in the provincial capital, already on edge after a suicide attack just 10 days earlier that killed 14 people, part of a deadly wave of militant violence that has rippled across the country this month. Multiple police and administration officials had earlier stated on record that the explosion in a posh area of the city, which blew out windows and crumpled cars, was a bomb. But amid rumors and speculation, authorities revised their assessment at a press conference in Lahore Friday. “Yesterday’s explosion was an accident. It was not caused by explosives or a result of terrorism,” Punjab provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said Friday. “The presence of gas cylinders and leakage has been confirmed on the site,” he continued. “We got the forensic report this morning and the results and conclusions are that there was no indication of explosives or related materials.” Debris had blocked the forensics team from accessing the site, he said. The assessment of samples at forensics laboratory requires around 6-8 hours, he said. Sanaullah blamed the confusion on chaos in the aftermath of the incident, and suggested authorities were considering reforming the provincial press department to streamline the flow of verified information. The minister regretted that some TV channels had given the DHA blast the spin of a terrorism incident and later ran news of another blast that caused “fear and panic” among the citizens. He also said the blast had killed seven people, not eight as officials had earlier stated. Thursday’s explosion sent panic through Lahore, where reports of a second blast were quickly debunked, and on social media, where users exchanged dire warnings purporting to be from intelligence agencies. The military later denied issuing the messages. The rumours underscored growing nervousness across the country after a series of assaults shook people emboldened by what had been a prolonged lull in violence. Attacks over the last fortnight include a bomb in Lahore on February 13 which killed 14 people, and a devastating suicide blast at a Sufi shrine in Sindh province that left 90 devotees dead. The incidents have dented optimism after the country appeared to be making strong gains in its decade-and-a-half long war on militancy.