Golaghat: A video showing a herd of wild elephants struggling to cross a road blocked by barricades in Assam’s Golaghat district has triggered widespread outrage among conservationists and local residents.
The barricades, reportedly erected as a security measure for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally scheduled on September 14, 2025, in Numaligarh, were placed along a route the Prime Minister’s convoy is expected to use.
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The video, which surfaced on social media, shows the elephants attempting to navigate a narrow stretch fenced on both sides with bamboo barricades. After repeated attempts, the herd eventually broke through the barriers and crossed, but the incident has been slammed as an example of human insensitivity towards wildlife.
Wildlife conservationist Rohit Choudhury, who shared the video, termed it a “mockery of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.” He also pointed out the irony, recalling the Prime Minister’s earlier remark: “While animals cannot speak, humans can understand their feelings and gestures.”
Local sources confirmed that the stretch where the incident occurred lies within a recognized elephant corridor. Activists argue that blocking it reflects administrative negligence, especially given past controversies in the region. In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of a wall built by Numaligarh Refinery in the same area for obstructing animal movement.
An activist, requesting anonymity, lashed out at the administration: “This is sheer irresponsibility. Do the officers who ordered this have no brain, or are they so insensitive to wild animals?”
The incident has reignited debate over balancing security arrangements with ecological sensitivity, particularly in Assam’s forested and wildlife-rich landscapes.
