Gas pipeline blast suspends supply in Sohbatpur

DERA MURAD JAMALI: Gas supply to a large part of Sohbatpur district in Nasirabad division was suspended on Tuesday after unidentified men blew up a gas pipeline, police said.

According to police, the explosion took place within the jurisdiction of the Shaheed Malik Muhammad Ali Police Station near Sohbatpur. The attackers planted explosives on a six-inch-diameter gas pipeline running beneath the Bahadur Ali Khoso Bridge in Bhand Sharif Goth and detonated them.

The blast disrupted gas supply to Sohbatpur and a number of surrounding areas, including Faridabad, Bhand Sharif, Jiani, Daulat Ghari, Hairdin, Chatan Patti and Dargai, along with other rural and urban localities.

Police said they reached the site after the explosion, sealed off the area and began an investigation into the incident.

Supply disruption across multiple localities

The damaged pipeline led to the suspension of gas services across a wide area of the district. Police identified the affected places as Sohbatpur, Faridabad, Bhand Sharif, Jiani, Daulat Ghari, Hairdin, Chatan Patti and Dargai, in addition to other nearby rural and urban settlements.

The pipeline that was targeted was described by police as having a diameter of six inches and passing under the Bahadur Ali Khoso Bridge in Bhand Sharif Goth. The blast caused an immediate interruption in supply to consumers in the affected areas.

Investigation launched

Following the incident, police personnel moved to the location, cordoned off the site and initiated an inquiry. The attackers were not identified in the initial account provided by police.

No further details were provided in the report about the extent of damage to the pipeline beyond the disruption of supply, but police confirmed that the explosion was caused by explosives planted on the gas line.

The incident occurred near Sohbatpur in the Nasirabad division, where the suspension of gas supply affected both urban neighbourhoods and rural communities.