DADU, Aug 20: A 200-foot wide breach developed in the Dadu Canal at RD No497 in the Pat Sharif sub-division as a result of which 400 huts were destroyed and 3,000 acres of agricultural land flooded on Tuesday.

The breach developed on the non-inspected path in the Pat Sharif sub-division of the southern division of the irrigation department, Dadu.

At least 400 huts were destroyed in Karimdad Chandio village, Hasul Chandio village and six other villages.

At least 3,000 acres of agricultural land including paddy crops, cotton, and vegetables were flooded. The link roads of the area were also flooded.

The villagers were shifting their family members and cattle to safer places.

Three teams of irrigation officials led by the chief engineer, Sukkur Barrage, Syed Noor Mohammad Shah, the superintendent engineer, Abbas Awan, the executive engineer, Habibullah Kabooro, NGOs, and the villagers of nearby villages arrived at the spot and were trying to plug the breach. However, the breach had not been plugged till the filing of this report.

When this correspondent arrived at the spot, a grower, Nabi Bux, said that the breach had developed in Dadu Canal owing to the apathy of the irrigation officials.

He said that he had informed the local officials of the irrigation department when the breach had just started to develop but in vain.

Another grower, Ali Ahmed Chandio, said that the banks of the Dadu Canal had become weak on both sides in the Pat Sharif sub-division.

He said that the irrigation officials had not repaired it since the last 10 years.