Hailakandi: Two houses were damaged after the Longai river breached its embankment at Badagaon in Karimganj district on Friday.

Sources said incessant rainfall for the past few days and increased flow from catchment areas in Mizoram has led to a rise in the water level of the Longai, which washed away 50 metres of the embankment in Badagaon under Nilambazar circle of the district.

The danger level of the Longai is 22m while its present level is 22.16m, sources said. But the water level began to drop on Sunday.

The embankments in Nayagram, Vidyanagar, Chararpar, Chengjurirpar, Teghoria, Narasinghakhra and Ichagunj are also in danger owing to the increase in water level of the Longai, sources said.

Karimganj deputy commissioner Pradip Kumar Talukdar said he had asked officials of the water resources department to take measures for repair of the breach and keep close vigil on all weak embankments. After visiting the area, Talukdar said a portion of the embankment began to show cracks two days ago.

A senior official said the area has been surveyed by ground-level staff and the repair will begin soon.

Residents, however, criticised the water resources department for not repairing the embankment during the dry season despite repeated requests. They alleged the department did not pay heed to their repeated demands.

Executive engineer, water resources, Achintya Roy said the main embankment was intact and a portion has been damaged owing to the heavy current of the river. He assured that the department will start repairing the breached portion.

Locals with the aid of anchalik panchayat members have taken up temporary protection work to prevent more damage. Abdul Khalique, a resident, said they were fearing more breaches in the embankment.