The irrigation department is working day and night to plug the breach in Bathind Branch of Sirhind Canal and it was expected to plug the breach by tomorrow morning. To probe the reasons of the breach high level inquiry has been handed over to Chief Engineer, Vigilance.Disclosing this here today, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister said that preliminary investigation indicated that the breach occurred due to roots of the trees on the embankment of the river. He said it appeared that the roots had made their ways into the river, thus making the embankment hollow. He further said that to ascertain the real cause of the breach a high level inquiry had been handed over to Chief Engineer Vigilance. He said that if any kind of negligence and laxity appeared, he would take stern action against the erring officers. Sekhon said that the over flowing water had not caused any damage to the residential area, but water entered in the agriculture fields of Beed Talab village. He said that he had directed all the senior officer of the department to immediately trace the weak areas in canals in the state, so as to avoid reoccurrence any such kind of mishap in future. He said that in a meeting with the senior officials of the department, he had also instructed to ensure round the clock monitoring of the canals’ embankment in the state through the Baildars, especially during pre-monsoon and monsoon season. Sekhon said that the top official of irrigation department are monitoring the process of plugging in of breach occurred in Bathind Branch of Sirhind Canal. He said that after the breach in the canal, the immediate demand was the reduction of water in the canal, so as to avoid any loss to life and property. He said that the reduction of water in canal was immediately achieved by opening up the course of water into the distributaries and drains attached with Bathinda Branch. Sekhon said that to expedite the rescue operations, they had established close liaison with Forest, PWD, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments. Besides this, teams of N.D.R.F. have also been deputed at the site.