Lakshman Canal breach submerges around 500 acres of paddy fields, Farmers seek immediate compensation
Ferozepur, July 1, 2026: Hundreds of acres of paddy fields were inundated after a breach developed in the Lakshman Canal near Raoke Hithar village in the Mamdot area of Ferozepur district, causing heavy losses to farmers during the ongoing paddy season.
According to the affected farmers, the water level in the canal, which usually remained around five feet, suddenly increased after a large quantity of water was released. The excessive pressure caused the canal embankment to crack, allowing water to gush into adjoining agricultural fields within a few hours.
Jagir Singh and other farmers claimed that nearly 500 acres of paddy crop have been submerged, leaving the standing crop severely damaged. They alleged that despite several hours having passed after the breach, neither senior irrigation officials nor district administration representatives had reached the site to plug the breach or assess the damage.
The farmers said this was not the first such incident. Similar breaches in the Lakshman Canal in the past had also caused extensive crop losses, but they alleged that repeated negligence in maintaining the canal had resulted in recurring damage to agricultural land.
With the monsoon season approaching, incidents of canal and distributary breaches have already been reported in districts such as Bathinda, Gurdaspur and Mansa, causing significant losses to farmers. The latest breach in Ferozepur has once again highlighted concerns over the condition of irrigation infrastructure.
The affected farmers have urged the Punjab Government and the Irrigation Department to immediately repair the breached canal, conduct a detailed survey of the damaged fields, and provide adequate compensation to those who have suffered crop losses. They also demanded long-term strengthening and proper maintenance of canal embankments to prevent such incidents from recurring.