QUETTA, March 24: Unknown persons blew up three huge pylons carrying two 220KV transmission lines between Sibi and Belput area, shutting down two-thirds of the power supply to Balochistan.

The power was being supplied from the Giddu and Uch power stations. "Pillars were blown up with explosive material destroying three huge towers," a spokesman of the Quetta Electricity Supply Company (Qesco) said here on Wednesday. He added that the attack took place last night.

A vast area of Balochistan was plugged into the darkness as 25 grid stations supplying electricity to various areas of the province went off-line. Balochistan gets 580MWs of electricity from Giddu and Uch power plants daily.

"We are short of around 380MW power supply daily from both the powers plants due to the blowing up of the three towers," the Qesco spokesman told this correspondent. He added that alternate arrangements have been made to provide electricity to the maximum affected areas of the province.

The Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan 132kv transmission line was linked with Sakhi Sarwar transmission line for continuing power supply Quetta and other areas of northern Balochistan.

"Work on the huge towers would take at least four to five days," the Qesco spokesmen said, and that all necessary equipment had been dispatched to the site.

"It is a sabotage act, and we are trying to trace out the miscreants involved in blowing up the huge towers," Mohammad Khan, the Tehsildar of Sibi told Dawn when contacted over telephone. He said that investigation was in progress in this connection. However, no arrest has been reported.