BAHAWALNAGAR: Villagers staged a protest on Saturday after a residential area was inundated due to the ‘failure’ of the administration to plug a 40-foot-wide breach in the Jalwala Canal in Bahawalnagar.

According to locals, a 40-foot-wide breach occurred in the Jalwala Canal due to weak embankments on the afternoon of October 9.

They claimed that the irrigation department’s failure to plug it caused the breach to significantly widen, resulting in hundreds of acres of rice and fodder crops in the surrounding areas getting submerged.

They further stated that although the irrigation department staff arrived at the scene after several hours, they did not bring the necessary machinery. Consequently, they claimed the breach could not be plugged and water made its way into residential areas of Basti Khalilabad.

They said thewater had not only damaged household belongings but had also submerged access routes, leaving residents trapped in their homes.

They claimed that despite the passage of 24 hours, the breach remained unplugged and demanded that the administration take measures to immediately plug the breach and take action against the negligent officials.

COP HELD: The Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) claimed to have arrested a policeman peddling drugs red-handed and recovered a large amount of ice from his possession.

The FIR registered with the CNF on the complaint of SI Saif Ali claimed that a seven-member raiding party deployed at NFC Bahawalnagar, on a tip-off, conducted a raid near the Sabzi Mandi at Mohal Chowk on October 7 at around 2pm.

They arrested a man dressed in plainclothes and recovered 520 grams of ice (crystal methamphetamine) from his possession. CNF claimed the accused was identified as ASI Zafar, based on his service card of Punjab Police.

When contacted, the DPO’s spokesperson said that the aforementioned cop had been suspended and a departmental investigation had been launched against him.

Police sources told Dawn that the policeman was deployed at the Niaz Shaheed checkpost located at Bhokan Pattan Toll Plaza for the past several months, and despite numerous complaints of drug trafficking alleging the involvement of several officials from this checkpost, the district police had maintained silence on the matter.

ACCIDENT: Three of a family were crushed to death after a speeding truck hit a motorcycle in Minchinabad on Saturday.

According to Rescue 1122, Allah Rakha, a resident of Basti Nosherwan, was going home on a motorcycle with his wife and minor son when a 22-wheeler coming from behind crushed the motorcycle near the Baba Farid Bridge, killing all three bike riders.

Meanwhile, seven people were injured when a passenger bus travelling from Haroonabad to Lahore overturned due to speeding.

According to Rescue officials, the bus overturned at Mohal Chowk due to overspeeding. They said the seven injured passengers had been shifted to the DHQ Hospital.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2026