Authorities Seize Seven Vehicles in Major Beas River Illegal Mining Raids

Hamirpur: In a major midnight operation against environmental degradation, authorities in Himachal Pradesh seized seven vehicles involved in illegal sand and stone mining along the Beas River basin.

Acting on precise intelligence reports regarding nocturnal extraction activities, a joint task force comprising mining officials and local police conducted synchronized raids across multiple vulnerable stretches of the riverbed. The culprits, exploiting the darkness to evade regular surveillance, were caught red-handed loading illegally excavated minor minerals.

Upon spotting the raid teams, several operators abandoned their machinery and fled into the nearby forested terrain. However, officials successfully impounded the vehicles, which included heavy-duty tippers and earth-moving tractors. Heavy penalties have been slapped on the vehicle owners under the state anti-mining laws.

The Beas River has long been a target for illegal miners due to its high-quality construction aggregates. Local administrative officials emphasized that these unauthorized operations drastically alter the river's natural course, trigger severe soil erosion, and threaten local bridges.

"We have intensified our round-the-clock monitoring of the riverbeds," a senior official stated. "This crackdown sends a clear message that illegal mineral theft will face zero tolerance. Rogue operators using the cover of night will be dealt with strictly under the law."

The state government has also directed local panchayats and field staff to report any suspicious heavy vehicle movements near water bodies immediately to prevent further ecological damage.