SARGODHA, March 4: Two breaches, about 50-foot and 10-foot wide in Kirana Distributary, Lower Jhelum Canal, near Chak 73 SB and 23 SB inundated a vast area and damaged houses.

Residents of Chak 73 SB said on Friday the breach occurred on Thursday night. The canal department kept Kirana Distributary closed for the construction of a siphon passing underneath it. Water was released on March 1 and, according to them, breach occurred because of use of substandard material. Standing wheat and maize crops were destroyed by gushing water.

The canal has been closed for repair and, till the dispatch of this story, the breach was not plugged. Meanwhile, a 10-foot wide breach occurred near Chak 23 SB which also damaged crops and house.

When contacted, irrigation chief Usman Akram said the breach occurred due to fault of drainage department. He said he has ordered an inquiry and deputed Lower Jhelum Canal Superintending Engineer (SE) Ghulam Qader Sadrela for the purpose.

Mr Sadrela, when contacted at around 5pm, told this correspondent that only a 30-foot wide breach had occurred on turret 57 and 58. No breach had taken place in Chak 23 SB, he added. He admitted that breach has not yet plugged. He said he was holding an inquiry.