Hundreds of acres submerged after storm, rain

Hundreds of acres of crops were submerged due to large-scale erosion in the Panjawa Minor (sub-canal) passing near Dhani Shafi, just a few km from Abohar town, after a thunderstorm and rain lashed the area at around 1 am.Farmers reportedly made a cut in the road using a JCB machine to divert water to other fields to save residential areas.

Farmers Sona Sandhu and Jagtar Singh said around 3 am, they came to know about the canal breach and informed the Canal Department, but no staff visited the canal till 10 am.

Vinod Kumar Suthar, Executive Engineer of the department, said branches of trees and other heavy materials fell in the canal due to the thunderstorm, resulting in the erosion. A team from the department inspected the spot this morning. The controlling authorities were requested to shut supply from the headworks. Till tomorrow, the canal breach would be repaired to restore supply, said sources.

…. Caption: A farmer watches the road cut that was made to divert water to his fields.