Canal breach destroys 15 houses

Affected people start returning home after 7-hour repair work

LODHRAN:

A canal breach resulted in the overflow of water into the populated area of Munshiwala, causing significant damage.

According to local residents, hundreds of acres of land was affected, including a cemetery and about 40 houses that suffered varying degrees of damage. The residents told The Express Tribune that 15 houses had been destroyed by the flood.

The local administration set up camps in government schools and provided food to the affected residents, while the deputy commissioner ordered a thorough assessment of the damage.

The breach measuring 60 feet developed in the Chahar Canal in Munshiwala, leading to the flooding of land, houses and a graveyard. The forceful flow of water in the canal widened the breach.

The residents initially tried on their own to contain the water flow.

Meanwhile, Lodhran Deputy Commissioner Abdul Rauf Meher and Assistant Commissioner Mian Ashraf Saleh visited the village to assess the situation.

Irrigation Department Executive Engineer Muhammad Ameer stated that the canal carries a volume of 1,100 cusecs of water and 600 cusecs have been reduced following the closure of gates at the canal head.

The assistant commissioner announced later that the breach had bene filled after seven hours of intensive efforts.

He said camps had been established for the affected families. However, some families opted to stay with relatives or return to their homes.

Many of the affected people returned to their homes as the water receded.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2023.