BAHAWALNAGAR: Crops spread over hundreds of acres were inundated in Marot on Saturday while thousands of acres including residential areas are under serious threat because of a 70-foot wide breach at Hakra Canal.The breach occurred in the wee hours and could not be plugged even after the passage of almost 16 hours, protesting farmers said. They said Hakra Canal, which was the largest canal of the district, had been overflowing for a few days due to heavy rain in the area and it was feared that the banks of the canal could be broken or breached due to weak embankment.

However, the irrigation officials did not bother to take any meas-ure to control the situation, they added.

They said the breach occurred in the canal but the officials did not reach the spot even after the passage of 16 hours despite being timely informed. They said crops spread over hundreds of acres had been inundated and if the breach could not be plugged on an immediate basis, it is feared that thousands of acres of crops and nearby villages would also be flooded.

An official of the irrigation department said that due to heavy and consistent rainfall in the district, canal embankments had weakened resulting in the breach. He claimed that machinery and staffers were being sent to the spot and the breach would be plugged soon.