PESHAWAR: A powerful explosion ripped through a major gas pipeline in the Hasankhel area of Peshawar late on Wednesday, triggering a blaze in the 24-inch main supply line along the Karak–Nowshera route, an official from the gas utility said.
The blast forced authorities to suspend gas delivery to multiple districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a precaution for public safety.
Speaking to Geo News, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) General Manager Waqas Shinwari said that emergency repair teams had been dispatched immediately to isolate the damaged section and initiate a safety inspection.
He said gas supply to Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan and Swat was likely to be affected. However, he stressed that alternative arrangements were being made to maintain supply in the affected districts.
Shinwari added that the supply to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi could also face disruption, but reassured consumers that gas would be prioritised during mealtimes in the affected areas, including Swat and Abbottabad.
He said repair work would begin once the fire was fully extinguished, noting that a detailed inspection of the blast site would follow. “We have launched a full investigation into the incident and its cause,” he said.
Local police confirmed that the gas supply had been halted and urged residents to stay away from the area until it was declared safe.
Officials have not ruled out the possibility of sabotage or terrorist activity.
