Stray dog menace spirals in Phagwara: 250 bitten in month

A wave of fear and frustration is sweeping through Phagwara and its surrounding villages as an alarming surge in stray dog attacks has left over 250 residents, including several women and children, bitten in the past month. The victims are being treated at Phagwara and Panchhat civil hospitals and various private medical facilities.

Confirming the statistics, Senior Medical Officer Dr Parminder Kaur told The Tribune that approximately 10 dog bite cases were being daily reported in Phagwara sub-division.

“We are witnessing a consistent influx of victims, many of them children,” she said.

While anti-rabies vaccines are available at government hospitals, the critical Immunoglobulin injection, used for high-risk dog bite cases, remains unavailable. This has led to significant inconvenience and potential risk to patients. “The injection is costly and hard to procure. Unfortunately, it is not available in our stock at present,” Dr Kaur admitted. Child specialist Dr Punit Galhotra echoed the concern, stressing that the unavailability of Immunoglobulin put patients — especially children — at an increased risk.

“Immediate administration of this injection can be life-saving in severe cases. Its shortage is deeply concerning,” he said. Unofficial estimates place the stray dog population in Phagwara subdivision at over 5,000, with dogs roaming in aggressive packs across residential and commercial areas alike. Localities severely affected include Hargobind Nagar, Daddal Mohalla, Chahl Nagar, Palahai Gate, Onkar Nagar, Tibbi, and New Model Town.

Amid mounting pressure from citizens, Phagwara Municipal Commissioner Akshita Gupta said the corporation was taking urgent steps to address the issue. “We are setting up an Animal Birth Control Centre in the Baba Gadhia locality, with an investment of Rs 22 lakh. The facility is currently under construction,” she said.

However, Dr Gupta also highlighted a major obstacle — lack of cooperation from the Animal Husbandry Department. “Despite multiple communications, veterinary officials have failed to respond or participate in the sterilisation drive,” she added. Residents across the city have expressed outrage over the administrative apathy, accusing multiple departments — civil administration, health services, Animal Husbandry and the Municipal Corporation — of passing the buck. Morning walkers, particularly senior citizens, are seen carrying sticks for protection, while pedestrians complain of foul odours from uncollected carcasses of stray dogs.

In a tragic reflection of the situation, three children were mauled by stray dogs in Phagwara and surrounding villages in last two days. One victim at Phagwara Civil Hospital was reportedly made to first obtain an OPD slip and then procure his own medication, despite being in critical condition. Despite assurances from the local authorities, no concrete action has materialised, and public anger continues to mount. Residents are demanding immediate and coordinated intervention before the situation spirals further out of control.

Jalandhar