QUETTA: An 18-inch Sui gas pipeline was blown up in early hours of Monday by unknown miscreants in Dera Murad Jamali disrupting gas supply in various areas of the insurgency-hit Balochistan province, DawnNews reported.

Police officer Ayub Bakhsh told the media the pipeline was blown up with a loud explosion, adding that roaring flames of fire were visible from far distances.

He said that due to the pipeline explosion, gas supply was disrupted to Quetta and several other districts of the province.

Officials said it was difficult to carry out repair work overnight due to security risk and informed the media that repairs will commence in the morning.

Sabotage of gas pipelines is a characteristic tactic of tribal militants and is frequently witnessed in Balochistan. However, the province also suffers from attacks carried out by Taliban militants.

– Syed Ali Shah contributed to reporting from Quetta