June 10, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 05, 1429

LARKANA, June 9: A breach occurred at RD-420 of Dadu Canal near Yaro Lakhair village on Monday causing damage to paddy hatcheries. The 100 feet wide breach also submerged a village.

Executive Engineer of Dadu Canal Altaf Shaikh confirming the incident told Dawn that the gushing water submerged Pir Bakhsh Khokhar village, inundated about 100 acres of land and damaged paddy hatcheries. The breach occurred at 4.30am and efforts were underway to plug it, said the engineer adding almost 50 per cent had been completed.

The SDO, Dadu Canal received a phone call few days ago by local criminals demanding Rs200,000 and in case of failure they threatened to inflict damage, he said. The engineer linked this breach to the threat.

He expected plugging to finish by midnight as water level from upstream had been lowered to expedite work.

Villagers alleged negligence by irrigation official for it.