SANGHAR, Nov 29: A 100-feet wide breach developed in the Dim Wah of the Khadro irrigation sub-division at the 5th mile, near Khadro, on Friday as a result of which several villages were flooded and at least 300 acres of crops were destroyed.

The villagers were informed through the loud speakers of mosques to vacate their homes and shift to safer places.

The irrigation officials closed the control gates of the Dim Wah from the Jamrao Canal to plug the breach.

Hundreds of villagers along with tractor trollies arrived at the Dim Wah to help in the work.

The executive engineer of Jamrao division, Ghulam Hussain Leghari, who had arrived at the site of the breach, told newsmen that it would be plugged by 6pm on Friday and the water supply would be restored on Saturday.

At least 200 huts in the villages of Ali Hassan Bugti, Liaquat Bugti, Maula Bux Khaskheli, Rind Ali Mari, and Deh 15 were flooded.

It must be mentioned here that the water supply to Dim Wah was released last Wednesday after about 16 days of closure under the rotation schedule.

Several farmers alleged that the irrigation authorities had closed many modules to extort money, and added that this caused the water level to rise and consequently the breach developed.

BAIL GRANTED: The civil judge, Sinjhoro, at Sanghar granted bail to a journalist, Abdul Sattar alias Mansoor Khaskheli, on Friday on furnishing a surety bond of Rs30,000.

Mansoor Khaskheli had been arrested by the Jhol police on Wednesday on the complaint of another journalist, Mumtaz Shar, who had alleged that the other newsman had threatened to kill him.