QUETTA: Militants blown up a gas pipeline Saturday morning in Balochistan's Dera Bugti district, a security official said.

The official who denied to be named told Dawn by telephone that militants had planted explosive materials close to a gas pipeline in Dera Bugti's Pir Koh area. "The explosive material went off with a big bang", he said.

The blast damaged a 16-inch gas pipeline. The official stated that the blast caused suspension of gas supply to gas purification plant.

Frontier Corps and levies personnel reached the spot and started investigation into the incident. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

However, the official suspects Baloch insurgents could be behind the incident. Militants in Dera Bugti have been targeting vital national installation and security forces for last decade.