BADIN: Water stream in the irrigation channel running through Pangrio town and its adjacent areas changed its course when a mysterious breach occurred in its dyke at RD-74 section late on Wednesday night, residents of the nearby villages told reporters after the plugging and strengthening work was completed on Thursday.

They alleged that the breach did not occurred due to pressure of water or weak condition of the dyke but was deliberately caused, arguing that the dyke break at this point diverted flow of water to the farmlands belonging to an irrigation official.

The channel, Shadi Small Wah, has recently received its first flow in more than a month.

The villagers told local reporters that a small breach occurred during the night and widened to around 50 feet within the next few hours. “The flow at this point diverted to the R/6 drain that carries water to the official’s lands,” they said.

They said the local irrigation officials were promptly informed about the breach but no machinery was sent to the spot. “It took us around 18 hours to plug the breach along with the labourers employed by the department,” they said.

Sub-divisional officer Akhtar Arain and other officials concerned could not be reached by phone despite several attempts made by this reporter to seek their comment.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2018