Guwahati, Dec. 14 -- The Jarabari-Panikhaiti belt of Palasbari in Assam has witnessed an escalation in illegal sand mining along the Brahmaputra, triggering alarm among local residents over environmental damage and growing safety risks.

Residents living near the No. 5 spur said operators have been openly extracting white sand from the river channel in violation of prescribed norms. Using heavy machinery, they have dug deep, water-filled craters along the riverbed, altering the river's natural structure and flow. Locals warned that such large-scale, unscientific excavation threatens aquatic life, disturbs wildlife habitats, and increases the risk of erosion and accidents.

According to villagers, the mining continues daily with the use of...