MIRPURKHAS, May 23: About 12 villages and crops on thousands of acres were submerged when Mithrao canal developed a 100-foot breach, near village Aararo Bhurgari in taluka Kot Ghulam on Tuesday.

One to two feet water accumulated in agriculture lands. As a precautionary measure, the irrigation authorities opened all closed branches of Mithrao canal to reduce water level.

The inundated villages included Bhai Khan Shar, Laloo Kolhi, Jamshed Shar, Gul Mohammad Machi, Farooque Ahmed, Nek Mohammed, Muhib Shar, Abdulllah Khaskheli, Allah Bachayo Bhurgari and others.

Cotton, chilli, sugarcane and vegetables crops damaged after the breach.

The villagers, who moved to safe places, told journalists that a cut in Mithrao canal for water theft was the main cause of breach.

Irrigation officials engaged in plugging work termed it as artificial breach.

INJURED: A youth was seriously injured during aerial firing in a marriage ceremony in Hirabad on Tuesday.