Sirsa: Last night, the Baruvali Canal in Sirsa suddenly breached near the bridge at Darba Kalan village. As a result of the breach, approximately 50 acres of standing cotton crops have been submerged. Upon receiving information about the breach, officials from the Irrigation Department immediately rushed to the scene. The Irrigation Department officials subsequently ordered the closure of the canal at the Naharana Head. The incident occurred around 8:00 PM on Tuesday night, when the Baruvali Canal suddenly gave way near the bridge in Darba Kalan village. The breach caused a rupture of approximately 50 feet in the canal embankment, leading to a rapid surge of water into the surrounding fields.

Farmers promptly informed the Irrigation Department officials about the breach, and the flow of water into the canal was halted at the Naharana Head. Ratan Singh, a *mat* (supervisor) with the Irrigation Department, stated that the Baruvali Canal had suddenly breached near *burji* (marker) number 11900. He assured that the damaged section of the canal would be repaired shortly. The Baruvali Canal had remained closed for the preceding 20 days. Water was released into the canal from the Naharana Head at 1:30 PM on Tuesday afternoon; just seven hours later, at 8:00 PM, the canal suddenly breached. The canal serves as a vital source for drinking water supply and agricultural irrigation for villages such as Kairawali, Makkhosarani, Ludesar, Rupawas, Raipur, Dhukra, Gudiya Khera, Baruvali, and others. Farmers had previously warned that the canal's embankments were structurally weak and would likely give way the moment water was released into the channel; however, these warnings were disregarded, and the canal indeed breached merely seven hours after the water began flowing. Furthermore—and most significantly—this incident has failed to provide any relief to the villagers, who have already been grappling with a severe shortage of drinking water for nearly a month.

The canal will now be shut off at its source, after which the damaged embankment will be repaired. This entire process is expected to take approximately three to four days to complete. Kalu Ram, Mangeram, Gulzari, Moman Ram, Bhal Singh, Shubhkaran, Rajendra, and Omprakash stated that the Baruvali Canal serves as the source for both irrigation and drinking water for numerous villages—including Jamal, Kutiyana, Barasari, Raipur, Rupavas, Dhukra, and Gudiya Khera. Due to the negligence of the government and the Irrigation Department, residents are being forced to yearn even for basic amenities such as drinking water. They noted that the water reservoirs (diggis) in these villages lie empty, and the villagers are anxiously awaiting the arrival of water in the canal.

However, no sooner had water entered the canal than it breached, making the arrangement of drinking water an arduous task. They stated that the Irrigation Department officials have been duly informed about the canal breach; nevertheless, the uncertainty regarding when the canal will be repaired and when the water supply will be restored remains a matter of grave concern.