QUETTA: Gas supply was suspended to various parts of Quetta and other districts of Balochistan on Monday evening after unknown armed men blew up a main gas pipeline in the Western Bypass area of the provincial capital.
“An 18-inch diameter main gas pipeline was blown up by unknown individuals,” a spokesman for the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) confirmed, adding that the incident occurred in Akhtarabad, a locality on the outskirts of Quetta.
Police said armed men planted an explosive device under the underground pipeline and detonated it in the evening. “The pipeline caught fire, and the blast suspended gas supply to many areas of Quetta,” a senior police officer said.
A spokesman for SSGC said gas supply was affected in various areas of Quetta, including Hazara Town, Hazarganji, Khaizi, and Nohsar. “Other districts affected due to the blast include Pishin, Ziarat, Kalat, Mastung, and Kuchlak,” he added, noting that gas supply from the main distribution system was cut off.
“A large portion of the gas pipeline was destroyed in the blast,” SSGC officials said, adding that engineers and concerned staff reached the site to inspect the damage. The damaged pipeline will be replaced, with repair work to commence after security clearance. A heavy contingent of security forces has been deployed at gas installations in Quetta following the incident.
