QUETTA: Gas supply to nine districts of Balochistan remained suspended since attackers blew up a key pipeline near Dera Allahyar area of Jaffarabad district on Thursday.

The problem was compounded on Friday when militants blew up a gas well in the Uch field and a 22-inch diameter pipeline in Sui town, disrupting supply to the Sui purification plant.

According to officials of the Sui Southern Gas Company, technicians have started work to repair the pipeline targeted on Thursday.

The officials said that about 400-foot portion of the pipeline had been destroyed and several pillars supporting the pipeline running across the Begari canal were also destroyed.

They said it was difficult to say when the supply to the affected districts, including Quetta, would be restored. However, they said, three days were needed to complete the job.

The sources said that gas production from the purification plant was reduced affecting supply to parts of Sindh, including Karachi.

Baloch Republican Army spokesman Sarbaz Baloch claimed responsibility for the blast on Friday.