DADU, Aug 12: Two breaches in a canal and a saline water drain in the Khairpur Nathan Shah area on Sunday, caused inundation of a large number of houses and hundreds of acres agricultural land.

Following the 20-foot breach in Kudan Branch, water entered Rahmatullah colony of Khairpur Nathan Shah town. About 100 houses were submerged and 10 kutcha houses collapsed.

A 30-foot breach occurred in Sim Nullah in the flood-affected area about two kilometres from Khairpur Nathan Shah, inundating Murad Chandio village and 200 acres of agricultural land.

The residents of Murad Chandio village shifted their families to the safer places.

Owing to recent rains, water level at the drain is increasing.

Inhabitants of the area with the support of officials of Wapda’s Scarp division were trying to plug the breach in Sim Nullah. The irrigation officials with the help of the residents have plugged the breach at Kudan Branch after hectic efforts of six hours.

Meanwhile, two breaches that had occurred at Sim Nullah in Mehar taluka on Saturday, had not been plugged till Sunday.

SURVEY FOR DAMS: Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said that a company has been assigned the job to conduct a survey for constructing two dams on Saklaji and Nauloung drains to store floodwater from Balochistan.

He was speaking at a meeting with Wapda and irrigation officials at the Right Bank Outfall Drain rest house here on Sunday.

It was attended by Wapda general manager (water) Mohammad Iqbal, chief engineer (water) Huzoor Bux Memon, chief engineer Sukkur Barrage right bank, irrigation department, Atta Mohammad Soomro, project director, RBOD I and III, Sultan Ahmed Dogar and chief engineer, Reni Canal, Nazeer Ahmed Memon.

The minister said that the embankments of minor drains in Sindh and Balochistan would be repaired to face any eventuality in monsoon.

He said that 15 breaches out of 25 had been plugged at a cost of Rs137 million and rehabilitation work at Suprio Bund would begin soon at a cost of Rs340 million.

He said that the Main Nara Valley (MNV) drain would be rehabilitated at a cost of Rs478 million.

He said that the capacity of MNV drains would be increased to 8,000 cusecs from 6,000 cusecs. He directed the irrigation and Wapda officials to conduct a joint survey on a main drain to release Manchhar Lake water into Indus River.