RAHIMYARKHAN:A 100-foot breach was reported in the Lakhi Minor canal near Chak 212-P of Tillo Road, some 60 kilometres from the city, in the wee hours of Saturday.

Reportedly, the breach was caused by weak banks of the canal and illegal felling of trees from the area. The rupture that was initially 30 feet wide was later said to have extended to 100 feet.

Local residents said they informed the irrigation staff about it, but no one had reached the spottill noon. Instead, neighbouring villagers gathered to plug the breach themselves. Water from the canal entered the nearby wheat fields and affected the recently cultivated crop.

Rahim Yar Khan Superintending Engineer (Irrigation) Abdul Wahid told Dawn that the actual breach was 50 feet wide that was plugged by the irrigation staff with the help of machinery after 4:30pm.

He further said the damage to crops could not be calculated, but the irrigation department will collect details about the loss within a couple of days.