Ludhiana, June 18 -- A farmer had a narrow escape after a section of a distributary canal wall breached near Kutba village in Raikot on Wednesday, sweeping his tractor into the water and flooding around 15 acres of farmland. Residents have alleged that the breach was triggered by a blockage caused by branches, bushes and other debris deposited by recent storms, which restricted the flow of water and increased pressure on the ageing canal embankment.

The breach occurred along the Raikot-Swazpur Road stretch, sending a large volume of water into adjoining agricultural fields and damaging standing crops. Irrigation department officials suspended water supply through the distributary after they were informed about the incident and made tempo...