KARACHI, Dec 6: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has said that its 16-inch diameter Indus Left Bank Pipeline (ILBP), taking gas to Sukkur, was ruptured at a place about 65 km away from Sukkur at 10:30 pm on Sunday.

A four-feet section of the pipeline was damaged at the downstream nullah overhead crossing. The cause of the rupture is being investigated. However a possibility of sabotage cannot be ruled out, says a press release of the Sui Southern Gas Company.

As a result of the rupture, gas supply to Mehrabpur, Kandyaro, Setharja, Thari Mirwah and villages along the route was disrupted. However, supply of gas to Sukkur, Rohri, Pannu Aqil, Khairpur, Pir Jo Goth, Ranipur, Lakki, Wazirabad, Kot Diji, and Kumb towns is being made through available 'line pack pressure'.

Repair teams rushed from the company's Khadejee Construction Base camp to the affected place carrying machinery and other material. The damaged section of the pipeline had been isolated and the main valves upstream and downstream had been closed, the press release said. Sui Southern Gas Company's spokesman said that the pipeline was being repaired on an emergency basis and gas supply was expected to be restored soon.