SUKKUR: A 50-foot-wide breach in the dyke of Shahi Canal in Jacobabad district caused widespread devastation flooding five villages and washing away standing paddy crop over several hundred acres in the early hours of Wednesday.

The breach occurred near Saleem Khoso village of Thull town bordering Balochistan.

Thatches houses of farmers in Saleem Khoso, Abdul Majeed, Mevo Pur and Abdul Qadir villages were destroyed by flooding caused by the breach, residents of the affected areas said, adding that the paddy crop they had grown over several hundred acres was washed away. The villagers who took part in the breach plugging work claimed that the dyke had weakened due to substandard material and improper strengthening works carried out by the contractors concerned. They also accused the relevant irrigation officials of negligence in supervising the works.

They said they promptly informed the local irrigation officials about the breach and sought urgent assistance but no one turned up to help until they plugged it on a self-help basis. It took them 10 hours to complete the job, they said.

The affected villagers urged the authorities concerned to compensate the huge losses they suffered due to the negligence and botched works.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2015

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