SHEIKHUPURA: The residents and shopkeepers of some localities where properties were hit by a breach developing in Muridke branch canal on Saturday staged a demonstration to protest alleged negligence of local irrigation officials, resulting in heavy losses to them.

After a 15 feet wide breach developed in the canal, water entered some residential and commercial areas of the city, including Shahzad Town,Cannal Park, Mujahid Nagar and some adjoining localities, causing damage to houses and shops.

Those affected by the breachheld a demonstration on Sheikhupura Road, throwing the traffic out of gear for about an hour in protest against what they called negligence and apathy of irrigation department local staffers. The protesters led by Sheikh Nasir Mehmood, a social worker, told the media the officials, including irrigation executive engineer (EXEN), subdivisional officer (SDO) and others hadalready been warned of the deteriorated condition of the canal bank where the breach occurred.

But these officials did not pay any heed to these warnings, resulting in massive damage to the people`s properties, they said.

Had the department carried out repair works to strength the banks in time, the losses could have been averted, the protesters said.

They demanded that chief minister should announce compensation for the affected people after getting the losses assessed.