Jammu, Sep 12 (UNI) The cases of dog bites have shown an upward graph in the recent past with rising population of stray canines in this winter capital of the state.
Official sources in the Anti-Rabies Department at Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu here on Saturday said that cases of dog bites have seen an increase in the recent past and most of the people are bitten by stray dogs. Whereas in the first eight months of the current year, 4649 cases of dog bites, was reported to the hospital.
Pertinently, Jammu Municipal Corporation has already initiated registration process of pet dogs to check the population with an aim to make Jammu city rabies-free.
“So far from January 1, 2020, till August 31, 2020, 4649 cases have been reported in the Anti-Rabies Department of the hospital and this is not a small figure,” sources said.
They alleged that the government has no policy to tackle the rising population of stray canines, which is bothering commuters particularly during night hours.
Last year, they said that from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, as many as 10,953 cases of dog bites were reported to the department, which means so far since, January 1, 2019, a total 15,602 dog bite cases (mostly by stray breed) are registered in the hospital record.
“People mostly complaint that they were bitten while riding a motorbike, scooter or a bicycle,” sources said adding that many cases were of serious nature and besides vaccination, they have also to undergo emergency surgery.
“Pet registration is not an immediate requirement but first, they should deal with an increasing population of stray dogs otherwise, it will become almost impossible for people to step out of the house,” a local rued.
