Gas pipeline blast suspends power supply

QUETTA - A main pipeline, supplying gas to Uch Power Plant, was blown up in Naseerabad district, suspending power supply to different parts of Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab on Thursday.According to police, unidentified men had planted explosives beneath a 24-inch diameter pipeline, supplying gas to Uch Power Plant in Dera Murad Jamali, in tehsil Chattar Gott Haji Imdad Hussain. The explosives went off with a huge blast damaging a large portion of pipeline and suspending gas supplies to the plant.Due to suspension of the gas supply, power supply to different parts of Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab was suspended.Law enforcement agencies rushed to the site soon after the blast and cordoned off the area. DSP Chattar Shabir Ahmed Rind told newsmen that owing to floods some checkposts of the security forces which were established for the security of gas pipelines were removed upon which this incident occurred. Technical team was rushed to the site for repairing the damaged pipeline. Police have registered a case against unidentified people and started further investigation into the incident. No group has claimed responsibility for blowing up the gas pipeline, however, it is believed that armed groups could be behind it as previously most of the attacks were owned by Baloch Republican Army.

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