NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, May 30: Crops over 850 acres of land as well as eight villages were inundated when a 100-foot-wide breach occurred in the Nusrat Canal near Kandiaro early on Monday morning. The breach inundated Pucca Ghanghro, Faiz Mohammad Rajpar, Makoro Ghanghro, Gul Mohammad Rind, Abdul Rauf Mangrio, Peten Mangrio, Phoohar Mangrio and Mario Mangrio villages.

The executive engineer of the Nusrat division as well as superintending engineer (irrigation) and his staff reached the spot.

The villagers complained that the irrigation department was not taking proper care of the embankments, and alleged that maintenance funds were being misused by the officials. Baildars had not been seen in the area for years, they added.

They demanded that an impartial inquiry into the matter should be initiated and action against the officials responsible for the incident taken.

The EDO (revenue) told this correspondent that losses would be assessed and submitted to the District Nazim with recommendation for a relief package for the affected villagers.