Bhubaneswar, Sept. 5: A breach in the embankment of Daya West Canal at Kalikhama near Palasuni has hit communication between Palasuni and Barang on the outskirts of the city.

The breach took place early this morning when a 12-metre stretch on the 12km embankment road caved in. “I saw the breach on my way to Barang. After that, movement of vehicles on the embankment stopped,” said Arun Shasani, a resident of Kalarahang village.

Sources in the Prachi irrigation division suspect sabotage. They said water had been released into the canal only two days ago and the embankment was strong enough to take the load.

“Someone seems to have obstructed the natural flow of water, causing the breach,” said a senior official of the division.

The three-metre wide road belongs to the rural development department. A joint team consisting of officials from the irrigation and rural development departments visited the spot and initiated restoration work. Sandbags and murram (reddish soil) were immediately dumped at the breached portion.

Local residents apprehend crop loss as water has inundated their fields. “As the canal was full, a large amount of water has inundated our fields. The authorities must repair the breach to prevent water from entering our fields,” said Sadashiv Moharana, a villager.

A rural development official said the road would be open to commuters only after the breach was repaired. “As soon as the water flow is regulated, we will undertake restoration,” said assistant engineer, rural work sub-division II, Bhubaneswar, Anup Kumar Behera.

Sources in the rural development department said a proposal for road widening had been approved. “The width of the road will be 3.75 metres. The tender for this will be floated shortly,” said a senior official of the department.

The road that runs parallel to the canal is a major communication link for people of nearly 50 villages in five gram panchayats. Following the breach, residents of the adjoining villages blocked the road with rocks. Every day, nearly 500 commuters take this route on their way to Barang and Patia.

Though mostly motorcyclists and bicycle riders use the road, autorickshaws and cars, too, ply on it. Now, commuters have to take an alternative road, a much longer route, which passes by Rangmatia village and through a railway level crossing.