Despite challenges in the operation, the forest department successfully rescued a leopard from a stormwater drain in Bhayandar West on Wednesday. Officials said the animal was hiding around 400-500 metres inside the dry drain, and after hours of efforts, they were able to get it to one end of the outlet.

For the past few days, there were reports about a leopard sighting near Jai Ambe Nagar, a slum settlement, about 7-8 km away from the forest. Based on a report that a leopard had been spotted near the rail tracks in the area, a search operation was conducted on Sunday night but nothing was found.