SAHIWAL, Nov 18: Crops on hundreds of acres and a village were inundated as 40 feet wide breach occurred in Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) on Thursday morning between RDs 361 and 362 near Chak 96/6-R. Villagers of Chak No. 95/6-R, 96/6-R and 97/6-R have been asked to vacate their houses.

Reports said the breach developed when water leakage started from a hole made by rats. The baildars of irrigation department tried to plug the minor breach with paddy husk but to no avail.

Earlier, the villagers of Chak 96/6-R tried to avert flooding of their houses by erecting a wall with earth-filled gunny bags which proved a futile exercise.

The irrigation authorities said water supply in LBDC had been stopped from Head Balloki. This would take another 36 hours to recede the water after which proper plugging would be possible as the canal had a discharge of 6,700 cusec at present, they said.

The local administration has called army jawans for help. Meanwhile, District Coordination Officer Mehr Muhammad Nawaz told newsmen that the department had hired bulldozers from the agricultural department for plugging the breach.

Meanwhile, the Montgomery-Pakpattan Link Canal on Thursday developed a 20 feet wide breach near Dilluwala bungalow as a result four villages were inundated. The breach was plugged after seven-hour hectic efforts by the irrigation staff and the area people. A 10-L disrtributory also reportedly developed a breach on Thursday which was plugged after eight-hour efforts.

The irrigation authorities have ordered an inquiry in this regard.

TWO KILLED: Two people were killed and one sustained injuries in a road accident here on Thursday. Reports said Abdul Ghaffar along with his sons Saqib and Masood was going from Chichawatni to Chak 109/12-L on motorcycle (SLK-2403) when a coach (LXK-1190) hit the bike, killing Ghaffar and Saqib, on the spot. Masood was rushed to the Nishtar Hospital. A case has been registered under Section 320/427 of the PPC.