KHAIRPUR, May 28: The main transmission gas pipeline was damaged after a blast caused by a leakage on Monday in the early hours of the desert area of Sanjaho in Faiz Ganj taluka, 35 kilometres off here.
Reports said that gas pipeline ripped apart with a big bang after which it caught fire. The flames were visible from a distance of 2 to 3 kilometres.
Fear gripped the surrounded village as a result of the blast and subsequent fire. A large number of domestic consumers immediately suspended their supplies while power supply was also suspended in the area.
Supply of gas for commercial purposes to Sukkur, Ranipur and Khairpur was also suspended as a result of the incident.
According to eye witnesses, initially damage to pipeline was to the extent of five to six feet which increased up to 25 to 30 feet as fire broke out.
According to local police, bomb disposal team visited the place of incident and concluded that the pipeline had not been blown up as a result of blast but due to continuous gas leakage.
Two women, namely Safooran and Zamiran, residents of Channa village, near Sanjaho Chang, fell unconscious due to explosion and were reportedly admitted to Pakka Chang hospital.
PROCESSION: A large number of activists and supporters of Sindh National Front (SNF) took out a procession here on Monday against May 12 killings in Karachi and the ban slapped on Imran Khan's entry into Sindh. The procession was led by Ghulam Mustafa Shahwani. They raised slogans against MQM and the Sindh government.
The procession, which started from Panj Gulla chowk, reached the press club after marching on different roads.
Speaking on the occasion, Saleem Veesar, Ghulam Mustafa Shahwani and others, demanded a judicial inquiry into the May 12 killings.
ROBBERY: Five armed men robbed passengers of a Multan-bound coach on Sunday night on the National Highway in the jurisdiction of B-section police station, Khairpur.
Reports said that a Multan-bound coach was on its way from Karachi when five armed men, who had boarded the bus from Karachi, got hold of the driver and passengers on gunpoint after the vehicle crossed Ranipur.
They deprived the passengers of mobile phone, cash etc. and escaped near Waris Gambhir, Therhi town.
Later, the passengers staged a demonstration on the highway and raised slogans against the police.
Reports said that some passengers informed emergency centres during the robbery through their cell phones. However, they failed to get any help from the police.