QUETTA, June 5: A gas pipeline in the Pirkoh gas filed in Dera Bugti district was blown up early on Tuesday morning, causing suspension of supply to the Pirkoh gas purification plant.

According to official sources, an explosive device placed under the main gas pipeline, blew up a three-foot portion of the pipeline.

The powerful explosion rocked the Pirkoh township and the gas field area. Immediately after the blast, the Oil and Gas Development Corporation blocked the supply of gas from the wells and engineers started repairing the damaged pipeline.

“We are trying to restore gas supply to the plant as soon as possible but it will take at least 36 to 48 hours,” OGDC officials said.

Law-enforcement agencies were investigating the incident. No one had claimed responsibility till late Tuesday evening.

In another incident, an oil tanker carrying fuel for the allied forces fighting in Afghanistan was blown up in Chaman.

“The tanker was going to Kandhar from Karachi,” police sources said.

They said that a bomb was planted under the tanker when it was parked near the Chaman grid station.