Jahangeer Ganaie
With the rise in the number of dog population, the cases of dog bites are on rise in Kashmir.
Doctors told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that sterilizing and vaccinating the dogs would effectively control their population and prevent rabies and reduce canine attacks.
They said that sterilization is the only scientific birth control measure for bringing the stray dog population under control.
“Everyday a large number of people are falling prey to dog bites. The canines are storming streets, chasing cars, pulling down bicycle riders and often attacking pedestrians and school children,” they said.
A few days ago, a minor boy died after he fell into drain while being chased by stray dogs in Srinagar.
A month ago, a minor boy was mauled by dogs in Beighpora Awantipora in Pulwama.
Doctors treating him had said that the wounds were so deep that even his lungs were injured and the incident is enough to show the gravity of dog menace in Kashmir.
People from different walks of life questioned why the government was only active during the G20 summit.
They said that it is time to act now, other situations will be very ugly in the coming time.
People living in rural areas have been continuously complaining that dogs are caught in urban areas and ferried to rural areas.
They also requested higher ups to look into the matter at the earliest so that people won’t face any inconvenience.
Officials who wished not to be named told KNO the Animal Birth Control Programme, the only assured manner to control the population of strays, is yet to fully take off as only few dogs are being sterilized at Shuhama that too during summer only and it will hardly make any difference.
“There is a need to increase the sterilization number and then only it will make a difference on the ground,@ they said.
Dr Tawheed Ahmed, SMC Veterinary Officer told KNO that the sterilization process is going on and sterilization number is expected to increase as the new facility is being made functional very soon.
An official from anti rabies clinic SMHS told KNO, that from April 1, 2022 till 3I March 2023, as many as 6,875 bite cases were reported at SMHS Hospital and most of them were from Srinagar.
Giving details, he said that among animal bites in last one year 4,912 animal bite cases were reported from Srinagar at ARC SMHS Hospital, 317 from Budgam, 201 from Baramulla, 134 from Kupwara, 168 from Bandipora, 301 from Ganderbal, 221 from Pulwama, 138 from Shopian, 147 from Kulgam, 85 from Anantnag and 231 from other areas.
Giving yearly data of bite cases, the official said that from April 1 2015 to March 2016, 7,061 bite cases were reported to ARC SMHS, followed by 5,832 cases from April 2016 to March 2017, 6,802 cases from April 2017 to March 2018, 6,397 cases from April 2018 to March 2019, 6139 cases from April 2019 to March 2020, 4,808 from April 2020 to March 2021, 5,469 from April 2021 to March 2022 and 6,785 from April 2022 to March 2023.
He said that 49,383 cases have been registered in Anti rabies clinic from April 2015 to March 2023.
Rabies is an invariably fatal viral disease resulting in approximately 59,000 human deaths per year globally, with 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia
