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Major breach in Bhakra canal, sabotage suspected

The army has been brought in to help plug a 100-metre breach in the Bhakra main line canal near Patran, which caused flooding of large tracts of land, after efforts by the district administration proved futile.

Official sources said the canal broke through some time early today and the army's help had been sought as the situation had become grave. The cause of the breach was not immediately known. However, sabotage could not be ruled out.

A number of deras (settlements) were under waters due to the sudden flooding.

Senior district and police officials had reached the site and army personnel had begun an operation to save the deras.

Haryana irrigation engineer-in-chief J K Chug, accompanied by Bhakra water services chief engineer M G Thukral had also reached Patran to oversee the breach plugging operations.

The Bhakra main line, with a capacity of around 6,000 cusecs taking off from Bhakra in Punjab, feeds Haryana and partially Rajasthan.

Haryana irrigation department sources in Chandigarh said the state draws around 5,500 cusecs from this major canal to feed areas of Hisar and Sirsa districts.

They said Rajasthan draws about 500 cusecs from the BML.

UNI

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