Greed for quick money turns tragic for 7 in Nalagarh

Greed for easy money through illegal mining nearly turned fatal for a group of men in Nalagarh, when they were caught in the gushing waters of the Mahadev river in the early hours of Friday. Seven men, along with three earth excavation machines and an equal number of tippers, were stranded after the river suddenly went into spate, exposing once again the dangers and lawlessness surrounding illegal mining in the area.

Eyewitnesses said the drivers of the vehicles had climbed atop their machines and were crying for help as floodwater rose rapidly. The incident highlighted how illegal miners take advantage of the rainy season, when large deposits of sand and quarry material accumulate in the riverbed. Despite Nalagarh’s outskirts being notorious for such activity, enforcement by authorities has remained lax, emboldening miscreants.

On this occasion, however, nature dealt them a harsh blow. The sudden rise in water levels, triggered by a fresh spell of rain, left the drivers trapped and their machines submerged. Fellow operators attempted rescue but were powerless before the gushing current. Around 4.30 am, a police team from Dhabota reached the spot after receiving information and found a large crowd trying to save the marooned men. Nek Mohammed, the owner of one of the machines, also arrived along with his operator Lucky. Using the machine, Lucky diverted water to create a makeshift passage and successfully rescued two stranded men.

In a daring second attempt, Mohammed himself climbed atop an excavator with two companions and maneuvered through the raging current to reach the trapped tipper drivers—Ranveer, Sunil, Mukesh—and machine operator Ravi Kumar. The risky operation ended in success as all four were brought back safely.

Confirming the incident, Baddi ASP Ashok Verma said that the rescued men — identified as tipper drivers Ranveer, Sunil, Mukesh,and machine operators Onkar, Meen Mohammed, and Ravi Kumar — were found indulging in illegal mining at Mahadev khud. Their equipment, including three excavators and three tippers, was seized.

A case has been registered under Section 303(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft, along with Section 21 of the Mining Act. Police are now investigating to identify the vehicle owners and take further action. This incident once again underlines the perilous risks of illegal mining, both from the forces of nature and the law.