KHAIRPUR, May 25: The Rohri Canal on Sunday morning developed a 40-foot-wide breach at RD-193 near Ranipur, inundating 65 houses and crops standing over 200 acres of land.

The breach water has reached the National Highway and is heading towards some localities on the outskirts of Ranipur.

Initially, the breach was 10 feet wide but it later expanded to 40 feet.

Talking to journalists, the villagers said the breach occurred due to the negligence of irrigation officials who were informed about weak embankments of the canal several times but had not taken any action.

Till the filing of this report at midnight, the efforts to repair the breach have not yet been successful as the gushing water has damaged the repaired portion of the canal embankment.

Measures are being taken by stocking sand bags to protect the National Highway from being destroyed.

Meanwhile, water supply in the Rohri Canal and the Mirwah Canal was stopped from the Sukkur Barrage to plug the breach.

The closure of water supply would badly affect crops, including cotton, in Khairpur, Kot Diji, Thari Mirwah and Faiz Ganj talukas.

According to the latest information, the water is gushing towards the Old Bus Stop and Bubur and Brohi localities of Ranipur town which has increased the possibility of damage to the town.

DUST STORM: : Dust storm hit Khairpur, Sukkur and Naushahro Feroze districts on Saturday evening.