Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar Oct 04 : Kashmir has reported over 60,000 dog bite cases in the last 10 years.
The stray dogs have created a terror in many areas of the valley.
Figures accessed by news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) reveal that around 60,000 persons have been bitten by dogs since 2013 in Kashmir.
Official figures reveal that 5000-7000 dog bite cases are reported annually at Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital.
Around 6802, 6399, 6984 and 4697 dog bite cases were reported during 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 respectively.
Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Rainawari said, “After the sun sets in we are not able to move out of our homes due to the unleashing reign of terror posed by stray dogs in our locality. I even prefer to offer morning and evening prayer at home.”
Adil Ahmad, a resident of Dalgate said authorities have failed to curb the growing population of dogs. “You will find stray dogs everywhere. Nobody is concerned about this dog menace. Our children are scared to go to school,” he said.
At the Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital (JLNM), Rainwari, the attendants claimed that dogs were on the prowl inside the hospital premises during the mornings and evening hours.
“Yesterday late evening, I moved out to procure the medicine for my ailing father. But, when I stepped out of the hospital, over half a dozen dogs chased me. I ran back to the hospital till three attendants accompanied me to a medical shop,” said Mohammad Ashraf, who was accompanying his father at the JLNM Hospital.
The Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS), Srinagar, shares the same tale, where the dogs often chase the attendants, who bring in food for the patients.
“Dozens of stray dogs inside the premises of the hospital have been scaring the masses. We don’t dare to move out of the hospital building due to the reigning threat unleashed by the stray dogs here,” said an attendant, Mushtaq Ali, who was accompanying his elder brother.
Officials say that the dogs are roaming around the hospital, and have become a nuisance for the people.
The situation is the same at tertiary care hospital SKIMS Soura where street dogs could be spotted roaming inside the hospital premises. Same is the case with Kashmir University.
Meanwhile a senior official of SMC said, the authorities have taken several measures to control the dog population. “Dog sterilization was halted for some time due to Covid. Besides, our request to people is not to throw any waste on roads which attract the dogs in those areas,” he added. (KINS)
