A few weeks ago the whole nation was shocked when the CCTV footage showed a 4-year-old failing in his attempt to escape a pack of mad stray dogs in Hyderabad. In another incident, the death of two minor brothers had been caused by multiple dog bites.
Recently ICMR revealed that 18,000 to 20,000 people die every year due to rabies caused by dog bites and other animal bites. It has come to light that 93% of rabies deaths in the country are due to dog bites. 63% of this is caused by stray dogs. 60% of deaths in towns and 64% in villages are due to stray dogs. However, there are 2 crore dogs in India out of which the number of stray dogs is 1.53 crore.
According to an ICMR study, the main reason for the increase in the number of stray dogs is the improper disposal of waste. That’s why there are more stray dogs near garbage dumps.
Many hospitals in the country have become shelters for these dogs. The dogs survive by eating the food thrown by patients. In the absence of food, these dogs break into poorly maintained mortuaries in government hospitals and also steal dead bodies.
Following the four-year-old kid’s death in Hyderabad, officials promised swift action to prevent future tragedies. The reports suggest that more than 500,000 dogs have been identified in Hyderabad and sent for sterilization.
But many fear it is only a matter of time before another pack of dogs takes another child’s life somewhere in India.
