Authorities in India's northeastern Assam state say suspected rebels have blown up a key oil pipeline, shutting down operations.
The authorities say there were no casualties in the pre-dawn attack at the pipeline belonging to state-owned Oil India Limited, northeast of the state capital, Guwahati. They say several nearby homes were destroyed in the large fire that followed the explosion.
No one has claimed responsibility for the blast, which came ahead of India's August 15 Independence Day celebrations.
Police suspect it was the work of militants from a separatist group known as the United Liberation Front of Asom, which has been fighting for an independent homeland since 1979.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.