DADU, Sept 7: A 60-foot breach in an embankment in Johi taluka inundated 25 villages on Tuesday, affecting about 20,000 people. Waters gushing from the breach at Mian-ji-Kundi village submerged the area between the embankment and the Main Nara Valley drain.

After the breach, floodwaters changed direction and started hammering the left embankment of the drain, creating a dangerous situation for Dadu town and adjoining villages and sparking fear among the residents.

The drain, about 20km away, is the last line of defence for the town. In 1995, waters flowing from a breach at the same place had reached the technical college in Dadu.

District Coordination Officer Mohammad Iqbal Memon asked people in 11 union councils of Dadu taluka -- Khudabad, Pipri, Moundar, Phulji, Pyaro Goth, Pat Sharif, Sita, Allahabad, Siyal, Makhdoom Bilawal and Yar Mohammad Kalhoro -- having a population of about 250,000 to remain alert.

Minister of State Rafique Ahmed Jamali said the embankment was weak at several places and the flow of waters was high, but efforts were being made to protect people.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah held a meeting with legislators of the district in Dadu amid an alarming situation in the town as well as Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Johi. Officials of the administration and Sukkur barrage also attended the meeting.

The chief minister told reporters that army and irrigation personnel had started work to plug the breach.

He said a threat to Johi persisted and a final warning had been issued to the people of the town.

He said efforts were made to protect large towns.

The chief minister said there was no danger to Dadu town and arrangements for transport and rescue would be made if a need arose.

He said measures to protect Mehar were being discussed and the Water and Power Development Authority had been asked to strengthen the MNV drain's embankments.

He said the Wapda chairman could not reach the place, but a general manager was here and he had said that the weak parts of the flood protective embankment would be strengthened.

The chief minister announced that 200 buses had been arranged to shift displaced people of Dadu district to safe places.

In Mehar, floodwaters inundated 25 more villages and mounted pressure on the town's ring embankment at Betto Jatoi Road.

Leakages were developing in the embankment around Johi town, although local people, including women, were trying to strengthen it.

An embankment along Johi branch, the last line of defence for Sita Road town, remained under pressure.The water level in the MNV drain started rising, discharging 7,500 cusecs into Manchhar lake, where the level rose to 113.8RL.