Gas supply remains suspended on 2nd day

KARAK: The Gurguri gas supply remained suspended for the second consecutive day to southern districts and some parts of Punjab as the main transmission line was damaged by earth moving machinery in Peer Meal area of district Karak.

The sources in Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) informed here on Tuesday that work on the repair of the damaged main transmission line was underway and the gas supply would be restored to affected areas after the completion of work. The local people said the main transmission line leading to Dera Ismail Khan, Bhakkar district and other parts of Punjab was blown up when a bulldozer leveling a land in Peer Mela area struck the main line and the main transmission line was damaged.

As a result of damages, the gas caught fire resultantly the bulldozer, pickup and a tractor working on the spot were gutted. The eyewitnesses claimed that a person identified as Noorat Gul, a resident of Peer Mela, was burnt alive in the incident.

Meanwhile, the SNGPL in a statement said the gas supply to Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Bhakkar was fast dwindling due to complete shutdown as a result of transmission pipeline damaged by locals of Peer Mela district karak.

“The repair staff has been at site since yesterday night, but the locals are not allowing the repair of the damaged portion. The district administration is negotiating with the locals to break the deadlock. The SNGPL regrets the inconvenience caused to all its consumers in these districts,” said the SNGPL general manager,” it added.