KARACHI, Aug 10: Gas supply to a vast area, including North Karachi, New Karachi and Buffer Zone, North Nazimabad and F B’ Area, was disrupted when a 20-inch dia gas pipeline was damaged during development work at Nagan Chowrangi flyover at about noon on Sunday.

The pipeline burst with a bang when the heavy machinery employed for digging during the work for the laying of a 48-inch dia water line close to the flyover hit the gas pipeline.

The entire vicinity was filled with foul smell creating breathing problem. The gas gushing out of the rupture with heavy pressure also created unendurable noise in the neighbourhood.

A large number of people present in the vicinity rushed to safety fearing a blast or fire. Panic prevailed for several hours until the Sui Southern Gas Company staff arrived and plugged the pipeline.

Sources said that the authorities concerned rushed to the site and closed all roads leading to the scene to vehicular traffic. A thick cloud of gas had gripped the locality and poor visibility had made driving through the area highly risky because of potholes existing all around and construction material scattered in the whole locality.

The incident caused instant breakdown of gas supply to entire North Karachi, New Karachi and Buffer Zone. Gas supply to North Nazimabad and Federal B’ Area was also partially affected.

The development work at the scene of the incident was reportedly being carried out by KWSB contractors.

Several other agencies and contractors have been executing various development works relating to the flyover and signal-free corridor being laid across the New Karachi Town.

A spokesman for the SSGC, Inayatullah Ismail, told Dawn on Sunday evening that the damaged section of the gas pipeline had since been repaired. He said the gas supply to the affected areas was normalised at about 9pm.