Patiala, May 25 -- A 50-feet breach in the Bhakra canal near the Passiana police station in Patiala caused panic in the surrounding area, with the water inundating acres of nearby fields, officials said.

The breach, as per the officials of the irrigation department, took place around 6 am, and teams were rushed to the spot to start the repair work.

The officials also sounded alert in the nearby area, with Patiala deputy commissioner Preeti Yadav also rushing to the spot.

"Plastic sandbags were used to plug the breach by evening," the officials said.

Health minister and Patiala rural MLA Dr Balbir Singh also reached the spot and said that a colony of rodents had burrowed deep into the embankments of the canal, causing the breach.

"The...