The forest department, acting on a tip-off, busted illegal excavation taking place in a forest near Pelhar village, in Mandvi near Virar. Three trucks were seized from the location and an offence has been registered against the three drivers.

Range Forest Officer Rita Vaidya from Mandvi Range of the Dahanu Forest Division confirmed, “Our staff visited the location on Thursday and found illegal excavation going on in the forest area. An offence has been registered under the sections of Indian Forest Act against three people.”