Udham Singh Nagar: Barhaini forest range team seizes truck loaded with khair wood, about 100 quintals worth ₹12 to 15 lakh; driver flees on seeing team

A team of the forest department's Barhaini range has seized a truck loaded with khair wood near Kanaura in the Doraha area. According to Dainik Bhaskar, the truck carried about 100 quintals of wood, valued at ₹12 to 15 lakh. The driver fled the spot on seeing the team. On a secret tip-off about wood smuggling, and on the directions of Divisional Forest Officer Umesh Tiwari and Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Maninder Kaur, a team led by range officer Mukul Sunal laid a cordon, stopped the truck and searched it. The department has taken the truck into custody and begun an investigation. Along with the search for the absconding driver, it is trying to find out where the khair trees were cut and who all are involved in the smuggling. The forest department says checking drives are on continuously to stop smuggling in forest areas and legal action will be taken against those involved.