Residents staged a road blockade on Kalingiyam Road in Gobichettipalayam on Saturday (October 24, 2026), demanding the removal of a nearly 50-year-old tree on the verge of being uprooted and the desilting of a roadside drain.

The road has several government and private schools with over 4,000 students, besides the Head Post Office and the Labour Welfare Department office, resulting in heavy traffic throughout the day.

Residents said the drain had not been desilted for several years, causing rainwater to stagnate during the monsoon. The waterlogging had weakened the roots of the tree, leaving it in a precarious condition. Despite repeated petitions to the Kalingiyam panchayat, Gobichettipalayam Union office and Highways Department, no action had been taken, they alleged.

The blockade disrupted traffic. Following talks, police and Highways Department officials assured the protesters that the tree would be removed within a week. The residents then withdrew their hour-long protest.

Meanwhile, rainwater inundated residential areas in Seethalakshmipuram within Gobichettipalayam municipality due to a clogged drain, leaving residents unable to leave their homes. Following a protest, the blockages were cleared. The water receded about four hours later, allowing residents to venture out.