Authorities launched round-the-clock emergency restoration work after a section of the Manu River embankment near Latiapura village in Unakoti district developed serious erosion, triggering fears of widespread flooding in the Kailashahar subdivision.

Residents living along the India-Bangladesh international border were alarmed after the embankment near the Zero Point began collapsing on Saturday. The river had remained above the danger level for several days due to continuous rainfall. Although water levels started to recede on Saturday morning, the prolonged pressure had already weakened the embankment, leading to fresh erosion.

Responding to the situation, the district administration conducted an urgent inspection of the affected site. The inspection was led by Unakoti District Magistrate Megha Jain and attended by senior civil and administrative officials, including Additional District Magistrates, the Kailashahar Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Deputy Magistrates, Government Pleader Sandeep Debroy, engineers from the Flood Control Department, and other officials.

The Border Security Force (BSF), which first alerted the administration about the deteriorating condition of the embankment, coordinated with civil authorities to facilitate immediate intervention. The Flood Control Department was instructed to begin emergency reinforcement by dumping soil along the vulnerable stretch.

Restoration efforts, however, encountered a major challenge as the damaged embankment could not support the movement of heavy vehicles carrying soil. To overcome the obstacle, authorities obtained approval from the Central Government to temporarily cut a portion of the international border fence, allowing construction vehicles to access the site. Following the clearance, repair work began without delay.

Sources said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) initially objected to the operation but later withdrew its concerns, enabling restoration work to continue smoothly.

Officials warned that nearly 300 metres of the embankment remain at risk of collapse. A breach could inundate extensive low-lying areas of the Kailashahar subdivision if emergency measures fail to stabilise the structure.

Government Pleader Sandeep Debroy described the situation as extremely critical, stating that emergency soil dumping and strengthening work are being carried out on a war footing to prevent a major disaster.

The embankment issue had already drawn political attention earlier this week. On July 10, Unakoti District Congress president Mohammad Badruzzaman alleged that repeated appeals from the local Gram Panchayat for preventive repairs had gone unheeded by the Flood Control Department.

Many residents echoed similar concerns, saying that timely maintenance carried out months earlier could have prevented the present crisis. Authorities continue to monitor both the condition of the embankment and the water level of the Manu River as restoration work progresses.