VEHARI: A 50-foot breach in Pakpattan Link Canal 5-R of Chak 433-EB, Burewala, on Monday night damaged several houses and crops spreading over 1,000 acres.The canal water seeped into several mud-houses, which were damaged.

Residents of the affected villages told reporters in Burewala on Tuesday that Bangla irrigation department officials did not take any step to plug the breach despite being timely informed about it.

They alleged that irrigation officials, especially SDO Liaquat Ali, did not take notice of the situation even 15 hours after the breach. The farmers got down to control damage by themselves on Tuesday when they found no official help, they claimed.

Cotton and vegetable crops were destroyed much to the consternation of the farmers who claimed that they had already informed the officials about vulnerability of the area.

SDO Liaquat Ali could not be contacted despite repeated attempts by this correspondent to get his version.

Burewala Assistant Commissioner Saifullah Sajid told Dawn that repair work was under way to plug the breach. He said the administration helped the affected people at Chak 433-EB and villages nearby.

Admitting that people were actively working to plug the breach, he said the officials were doing their job and would complete it in the next 24 hours (Wednesday). He said an inquiry would be conducted to find out the cause of breach.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2014