KOLAR: A 250-year-old peepal tree in Gandhinagar of Kolar town with which locals shared an organic bond came crashing down on Thursday.
It was planted when the bund of the Amanikere tank was constructed by Hyder Ali in 1770.
A neem tree, decades younger than the peepal tree that stood next to it, was partially damaged when the older one fell.
The peepal tree was part of the life of Gandhinagar and neighbouring areas as many panchayathis (compromise meetings) were conducted under it for decades, said VK Rajesh, former vicepresident of Kolar CMC.
Locals said the trunk had developed cracks a few days ago and collapsed under its own weight.
Vandemathram Somashankar, sub-inspector, Finger Print Expert team of Kolar police, said he had spent a lot of time during childhood days and used to sit there for long hours during college days.
According to Somashekhar, saint-cum-philosopher Chenchu Das used to sit under the tree and meditate for long hours about 100 years ago.
A bhajana troupe started by Das is still functional in Kolar.
K Sudhakar, assistant superintendent of postal services, Bengaluru, said he lived in Gandhinagar during his school and college days and grew up studying under the tree.
KN Thygaraju, former wildlife warden, said many marriages had taken place under the tree.
He said he had asked the forest department not to remove the tree up to the root, instead preserving the trunk as he hoped that it would grow.