Chalakudy in Thrissur, Kerala, witnessed high drama as local body representatives, led by panchayat presidents, locked National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) site engineer A. Amal inside a room at the PWD resthouse for nearly two hours on Thursday evening, protesting against the poor condition of the roads and severe traffic congestion on national highway 544.

The protest erupted after the NHAI project director, who had earlier promised to attend the meeting, failed to show up.