Archive · 21 Jul 2026
Gujarat Forest Officer Killed in Smuggler Chase Crash
A forest officer named Vikas Desai was chasing a car that was smuggling illegal wood.
The smuggler's car hit a parked trailer, and Desai's car crashed into it.
Both Desai and one of the smugglers died in the crash.
The driver of the smuggler's car was arrested.
The forest officer was trying to stop the smuggling of khair wood, which is used in traditional medicine.
The minister paid tribute to the officer, saying he was brave and sacrificed his life to protect the forest.
A Range Forest Officer (RFO) from Tapi district was killed in a crash while chasing a suspected khair wood smuggler.
The crash involved multiple vehicles near the Songadh check post.
One of the smugglers, Rehan Gamit, was also killed in the crash.
The driver of the timber vehicle, Hitesh Vasava, was arrested for rash and negligent driving.
The khair wood was allegedly being smuggled from a forest in Tapi to Navapur in Maharashtra.
- Who
- RFO Vikas Desai, Rehan Gamit, Hitesh Vasava
- What
- A crash involving multiple vehicles during a chase of suspected khair wood smugglers
- When
- Monday morning
- Where
- Near Songadh check post, Gujarat
- Why
- To prevent the smuggling of khair wood from a forest in Tapi to Navapur in Maharashtra
Forest Department
Smugglers
Pursuit of Smugglers
Forest Department
The Forest Department was acting to prevent illegal timber smuggling and protect forest resources.
Smugglers
The smugglers were attempting to evade capture and transport illegal timber.
- Date
- Monday morning
- Location
- Near Songadh check post, Gujarat
- Victims
- RFO Vikas Desai, Rehan Gamit
- Arrested Driver
- Hitesh Vasava
- Timber Seized
- Three logs of Khair wood