QUETTA, Feb 10: A main gas pipeline in the Sariab area was blown up on Saturday, suspending supply of gas to Quetta and surrounding areas for several hours.

The Sui Southern Gas Company restored gas supply to a major part of the Quetta city and the cantonment area through alternative arrangements after four and a half hours.

The people of Quetta faced difficulties due to suspension of gas supply in the chilly weather as heavy rains continued with intervals in Quetta and other parts of northern and southern Balochistan.

Police sources said an explosive device had been planted with a timer in the Kashmirabad area near Killi Qambrani which went off at 12:15pm. The explosion damaged a seven-foot portion of the 16-inch diameter pipeline, they said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blast.

The SSGC staff came to the site and stopped gas supply into the damaged pipeline from the main gas transmission system.

Quetta SSGC general manager Mohammad Nawaz Shaikh said staff with equipment had been sent to the area and they had started repairing the pipeline. He said the work would take 12 to 14 hours and gas supply from the pipeline to Quetta and surrounding areas would be restored tomorrow.

However, he said, the SSGC restored gas supply to a major part of the Quetta city and the cantonment area at 4:20pm from pipelines supplying gas to Pishin and Ziarat.