NDS official survives blast that cuts off power

ZARANJ (PAN): An intelligence official on Wednesday survived a bomb blast which cut off power supply lines to some parts in Zaranj, the capital of southwestern Nimroz province, an official said.

The explosives were planted in an electricity transformer which went off as the National Directorate of Security (NDS) official arrived near it in his car, crime branch chief Maj. Rahmatullah Nisar told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The blast completely destroyed the official’s car and the transformer, he said, adding power supply to half of Zaranj city was suspended as a result of the explosion.

Ghulam Dastagir, a nearby shopkeeper, said most of their business activities were performed with the help of electricity.

He asked the authorities to be fast in repairing the power supply system because Eid was far a day or two. “Hot weather is intolerable in the absence of electricity.”

mds/ma