Militants Blow Up Gas Pipeline in Balochistan, Disrupting Supply to Several Towns

Militants have disrupted gas supply to several towns and cities in Balochistan. An explosion damaged an 18-inch pipeline, cutting off gas since Wednesday night. Explosives were planted and detonated remotely, according to police officials. Security has been increased in the area and repair teams are being protected. This incident follows similar attacks on gas supply lines in recent months. Karachi: Militants have blown up a pipeline of a state-run gas company, disrupting supply to several towns and cities, including parts of the capital Quetta, in the restive Balochistan province of Pakistan, officials said Thursday. The explosion occurred at the KMP-246 Valve Assembly in the Bolan riverbed area near Gorkat, around 700 to 800 metres from the main Quetta-Sibi Road of Kachhi district, a spokesperson of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) said. The explosion damaged the 18-inch-wide pipeline, disrupting the gas supply since Wednesday night, the spokesperson said. A senior police officer said the militants had blown the pipeline by planting explosives and detonating it with a remote control. Security had been increased in the area and security is also being provided to the SSGC teams doing the repair work. Live Events The gas utility said that the management is closely monitoring the situation and working to restore supplies at the earliest. Militants had damaged and disrupted the gas supply lines of the Sui Southern Gas Company in the past as well, the police official said. Earlier in the month, militants had blown up a gas pipeline in the Nasirabad area. In May, the gas supply to a vast area of the province was suspended when a gas pipeline was blown up in Dera Bugti.