RAHIM YAR KHAN: Two breaches occurred in as many canals in Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur tehsil on Friday morning.

A 70-foot breach occurred in Sadiq Branch Canal near Chak 142-P of Manthar area, some 26 km from Rahim Yar Khan. The local people informed the irrigation department office but no step was taken to plug the breach.

Later, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ali Shehzad with Rescue 1122, irrigation, revenue and police officials arrived at the scene and started work to plug it involving local residents. By the time it was filled up in the evening, water had inundated nearby wheat fields.

Similarly, a 40-foot breach occurred in Aab-i-Hayat Canal which inundated wheat crop on many acres near Chak 45-P, some 29 km from Rahim Yar Khan, on Friday morning.

Local residents said they immediately informed the irrigation staff in Khanpur about the breach.

DC Shehzad also inspected the breach scene with Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Dr Jahanzeb Hussain Laabar and ordered the termination of irrigation water supply into the canal from head Talaywali near Jetha Bhutta from where the Abe-i-Hayyat originates.

The DC said that arrangements had been made to control the irrigation water from entering the residential areas. He said these breaches occurred due to winds after torrential rains in the last two days. He added the district administration was on high alert to save the life and property of the people.

He said the district administration was in touch with the government of Punjab to compensate farmers for the loss of their crops.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2020