QUETTA, July 18: Saboteurs blew up four power pylons early on Thursday, suspending supply to provincial capital and 16 other district headquarters, said the Quetta Electric Supply Company.

A Qesco statement said saboteurs planted explosive substance by pylons in Bibi Nani area of the Machh subdivision in the wee hours of Thursday and detonated it, damaging four 220kv and 132kv pylons.

It said the incident cut off power supply to 17 district headquarters, including Quetta, but the company made an alternative arrangement from Habibullah coastal power house and Qesco Sheikhmandh thermal power house to restore electricity supply to the provincial capital.

The statement said that a total of 1,550MW was needed to meet the demand of urban and rural consumers in the province, but the company was receiving only 270MW. The shortage, it added, had affected agriculture feeders.

The work to repair the pylons would be started after security clearance was given by the provincial government, the statement said.