RAHIM YAR KHAN, Aug 6: A 70-foot wide breach occurred in Sadiq branch canal and small breaches in Taranda and Chamman minor canals early Sunday morning.

Irrigation SE Ilyas Yousaf said the breaches of Taranda and Chamman minor canals had been plugged, but it would take 10 to 12 more hours to plug the Sadiq branch breach.

The breach occurred in the Sadiq branch canal at Chak 139/p near Manthar, almost 20km in the south-west of Rahim Yar Khan, which damaged cotton and sugarcane crops on hundred of acres. Adjoining villages 138/p and 137/p were also affected owing to Taranda and Chamman minor canal breaches.

The people of the affected area have appealed to the government to exempt them from Abiyana and Malia and declare their area calamity hit.