DADU: Five villages and crops standing on around 300 acres were inundated after the dyke of Kudan Shakh (irrigation channel) developed a branch and widened to 100 feet due to water pressure causing flooding in a vast area near Khairpur Nathan Shah on Tuesday.

According to residents of the affected villages, excessive water release into the channel caused the breach. Flooding hit Tarai, Rasheed Sand, Shadi Khan Chandio, Ishaq Chandio and Gul Mohammad Machhi villages, besides sweeping away standing paddy and vegetable crops in the affected areas. Seven fish farms were also destroyed. The deluge was heading towards Khairpur Nathan Shah-Sita link road when last reports came in late in the evening.

Local irrigation officials said that the flow into the channel had been stopped at source, Mehar branch, and dyke repair work started with the help of heavy machinery.

However, the affected villagers claimed that no official or workforce turned up to plug the breach. They said they were struggling to mend the dyke on their own.

They said that the breach occurred only two months after a similar one that had caused heavy losses and great trouble to them. They said the repair work carried out at that time seemed to be improper and that`s why the dyke could not withstand water pressure.

They said at least 300 houses were destroyed in the affected villages.

Men, women and children along with their animals and retrieved belongings were seen moving to safe places.