Over the past 70 hours, more than 15 people have been injured in stray dog attacks across Bhatkal town in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, health officials confirmed on Tuesday. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported so far.
The attacks, which began on July 6, have mostly targeted children and the elderly as they walked through residential areas and marketplaces. All injured individuals have been treated at local hospitals, with many receiving anti-rabies vaccinations.
The sharp rise in incidents has sparked fear and anger among residents, who allege that earlier complaints about the growing stray dog population were ignored by civic authorities. Locals are now demanding swift and decisive intervention from the Bhatkal Municipality.
In response, municipal officials said they are actively monitoring the situation and are planning to launch a sterilization and rescue campaign. The Animal Husbandry Department is expected to assist in identifying and removing aggressive dogs from public areas.
Meanwhile, public health authorities have been instructed to stay alert amid concerns over potential rabies transmission. A review meeting is likely to be held early next week to address public grievances and chart out corrective measures.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)