OKARA: Hundreds of acres of different crops of the Bahadar Nagar Farm ( BNF) and 38/GD were flooded by canal water when a 30-foot breach developed in Gogera Branch (GB) mini canal on Saturday.

Irrigation officials along with villagers were busy plugging the breach till the filing of this report.

A 38/GD resident, Chaudhry Zulifqar, told Dawn that late on Friday, the canal on the eastern side of livestock farms developed a breach which inundated crops of sugarcane, paddy, maize, tobacco, vegetables and fodders. The flooding hit the cattle pens and farmhouses in the fields.

The flooding caused losses to tenants and farmers of the area.

Farmers said irrigation officials were never seen visiting the canal even though it was their duty to supervise the banks and smooth water flow. Also, agriculturists would bring their cattle in hot weather to the canal for bathing, which would ultimately weaken the banks. Also, in canals, a bush, commonly known as Valayati Aak (with the botanical name of Ipomoea carnea) grows along the banks and hurdles water flow causing overflow from the banks.

Farmers have demanded that Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali take notice of the situation.

PROTEST: The people protested against the police for beating an alleged drug addict, Azam, of Mahtabgarh, at the Head Sulemanki police post on Saturday. They set tires on fire and blocked Haveli-Bahawal Nagar Road demanding the release of Azam.

Protesters pelted the police officials with stones and damaged police vehicles besides manhandling the police jawans. The police resorted to aerial shooting to disperse the people and called reinforcements. It is learned the police released Azam to calm the situation.

GANG-RAPE: A mother of six was gang-raped and deprived of cash and cell phone by two gunmen in village 25/4L.

As per a first information report got registered by the survivor, her husband is abroad for job. Late on Friday, two gunmen broke into her house and snatched cash and cell phone, and later gang-raped her. Her cries alerted the village people who called the Shahbore police.

District Police Officer Faisal Shahzad also visited the spot and supervised the geofencing of the site.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2021