India, April 22 -- By Maj. Gen. (Retd.) S.G. Vombatkere

The night-time felling of 75-year-old Peltophorum trees by the Mysuru City Corporation on Hyder Ali Road shocked the people of Mysuru.

In an unprecedented expression of outrage, nearly 2,000 Mysureans assembled on the evening of Apr. 18, 2025, at the site of this "green carnage" and stood peacefully and silently with lit candles, mourning the loss of these 40 trees, which left the birds and insects homeless.

Although this public demonstration occurred five days after the "murder", as the sun set, flocks of birds were observed flying around above their former homes in these trees, unbelieving that their nightly refuge with their nests and chicks was no more. After circling, the bir...