BAHAWALPUR: A vast tracts of land, including two rural localities, was inundated due to a breach late on Sunday in the 6-L Canal bank near Sammsatta, about 20 kilometres from Bahawalpur.

Dawn learnt that about 50-foot wide breach took place in the canal at about 3am submerging cotton andsugarcane crops on a vast areas around it. Due to the breach the nearby residential areas, including Sipra and Pahoran bastis, were also submerged and a large number of houses were either damaged or collapsed. No loss of life was reported.

Irrigation Department officials, with heavy machinery, rushed to the spot and plugged the breach after six to nine hours` struggle.

City Assistant Commissioner RaoTasleem Akhtar, who supervised the work, confirmed the inundation of two main bastis and damage to the standing crops in the area.

Ahmedpur East Irrigation Executive Engineer Sajid Mehmood told Dawn on phone that the breach had been plugged af ter three to four hours while he had yet to asses the extent of the loss to crops and bastis.

He said an inquiry into the incident would be conducted.