Islamabad, April 11 (NationPress) Gas supply disruption has been reported in the Sibi district and adjacent regions of Pakistan's Balochistan province following an attack by unidentified armed individuals who detonated a pipeline, as confirmed by local officials.

According to reports from Pakistani daily Dawn, a four-inch gas pipeline was blown up late Thursday night on the outskirts of Sibi town, resulting in a fire that ensued after the explosion.

Engineers from the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have halted the gas supply through the damaged pipeline.

In response to the incident, police and security forces, along with other law enforcement agencies, swiftly arrived at the scene after receiving alerts about the explosion.

Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the specifics and cause of the explosion, cordoning off the area to gather evidence.

This incident follows a similar attack just days earlier, which had already cut off gas supplies to Quetta and several districts in Balochistan due to a major pipeline explosion in the Western Bypass region.

According to a spokesperson for SSGC, an 18-inch main gas pipeline was also sabotaged by unidentified assailants in the Akhtarabad area, as reported by Dawn.

Police confirmed that the attackers had placed an explosive device underneath the pipeline and detonated it on the evening of March 30.

A senior police official stated that gas supplies to multiple areas in Quetta and Balochistan were interrupted due to the subsequent fire from the explosion.

SSGC's spokesperson indicated that the affected gas supply areas include Hazara town, Pishin, Ziarat, Kalat, Mastung, Hazarganji, Khaizi, Nohsar, and Kuchlak.

SSGC officials reported that a significant section of the gas pipeline was obliterated by the explosion, and repair work would commence once security clearance is granted, as noted by Dawn.

In the aftermath of the incident, a substantial presence of security personnel has been deployed at gas facilities in Quetta, according to Dawn.

Simultaneously, on April 9, Pakistani forces faced an ambush in Balochistan's Turbat, where a Baloch armed group had previously imposed a road blockade, leading to significant casualties, as reported by local media.

The Balochistan Post reported that the attack transpired after the group had blocked the road near Turbat for approximately three hours, subsequently taking control of a nearby police post and seizing weapons.

A military convoy of six vehicles was ambushed close to the Mashallah Hotel, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that lasted over 40 minutes.

During the confrontation, military drones were also targeted, with forces reportedly sustaining casualties and material losses, although the extent of the damage remains unverified.