Policemen martyred as twin attacks rock Quetta

Gas supply suspended in several areas after blast on SSGC line

QUETTA:

Two police personnel were martyred when unidentified accused opened fire on an Eagle Squad team on the Eastern Bypass.

The victims were identified as Constable Muhammad Noor and Constable Muhammad Ayub.

The attack has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of law enforcement personnel in the city.

In a separate incident, miscreants targeted key infrastructure on the Western Bypass near Akhtarabad, where an 18-inch pipeline of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) was blown up using explosive material.

The blast was so intense that it triggered a large fire, with flames rising high into the sky and causing panic among nearby residents.

Initial findings from the bomb disposal unit indicate that the explosion was a deliberate act of sabotage, with explosives planted beneath the pipeline. SSGC emergency teams reached the site promptly, shut down the main valve, and managed to bring the fire under control, preventing further damage.

The incident has disrupted gas supply across Quetta and several areas of upper Balochistan, including Airport Road, Nawan Killi, Jinnah Town, Hazarganji, Kuchlak, Pishin, Ziarat and surrounding localities.

Residents are facing serious difficulties, particularly in the cold weather, as routine activities such as cooking and heating have been affected.

SSGC officials stated that repair work will begin once security clearance is granted, adding that the restoration of the damaged section may take between 12 to 24 hours.

Police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) teams have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation. Authorities believe the pipeline, located beneath a bridge, was deliberately targeted.