DADU: Spillage from Khudabad branch (irrigation channel) washed away many houses in five villages and inundated around 5,000 acres of farmland some 25 kilometres from here on Tuesday, affected villagers told local reporters on Wednesday.

They said the spillage was caused by a 100-foot wide breach in the weak dyke of the channel near Khudabad town. They said that around 500 thatched houses and domestic articles as well as other belongings of the inmates were badly affected by the flooding.

Besides, they said, around 5,000 acres of land was inundated and three fish farms were washed away.

The affected villages were identified as Ishaq Magnejo, Iqbal Arain, Bakhsho Chandio, Gul Hassan Panhwar, Paro Jo Koh.

The villagers said that they immediately started the breach plugging work and approached the local irrigation officials for help but neither any official and labour force turned up nor the required machinery and stones were sent to the breach site.

They said that the deluge swept away their standing wheat and vegetable crops.

On his part, Dadu circle superintendent engineer of irrigation department Sajid Ali Bhutto told Dawn that water level at 123 regulators of Dadu Canal had increased following heavy rains in the district and neighbouring areas. “The doors of Pakha Shakh had to be opened to prevent an overflow that may have posed a threat of flooding to a wider area and its population,” he said. However, he added farmers closed their watercourses causing water level in Khudabad branch to go up. The increased pressure resulted in the breach, he said.

He claimed that upon receiving the villagers’ complaint, the officials concerned controlled the flow at the tail-end of Pakha Shakh. He noted that the tail-end area received water after 36 years.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2019