Kalyan Sees 250+ Dog-Bite Cases in 48 Hours

Kalyan has reported more than 250 alleged dog-bite cases in the past 48 hours, prompting the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to intensify its dog-catching operations and sterilisation programme. The cases were reported from various parts of Kalyan West, including the area between Sandeep Hotel and Aadharwadi, as well as Kalyan railway station and Rukminibai Hospital.

The sharp increase in cases was reported on Sunday and Monday, with around 150 people bitten in the Sandeep Hotel-Aadharwadi stretch and surrounding areas on Sunday between 3 pm and 9 pm. By 5 pm on Monday, another 107 cases had been recorded from the railway station area, Rukminibai Hospital, and nearby localities.

According to the KDMC, 58 dog-bite cases were recorded on Sunday and 107 on Monday. However, figures from different sources vary, with Rukminibai Hospital alone recording 165 dog-bite cases over the two days. The civic health department is collecting figures from private hospitals and other healthcare facilities to establish the overall number of cases.

The reason for the sudden increase in reported dog-bite incidents is not yet clear, according to KDMC Executive Medical Health Officer Dr Deepa Shukla. The civic administration is still trying to understand why there has been such a sudden increase in cases.

The increase in cases led to a substantial rush at Rukminibai Hospital on Monday, with patients and relatives waiting in queues for registration and anti-rabies injections. The hospital handled a higher-than-usual number of cases, with long queues forming outside the hospital.

Following the reports, the KDMC stepped up its efforts to catch dogs from locations where repeated incidents had been reported. The matter was also discussed during the KDMC Standing Committee meeting on Monday, with Committee chairman Malesh Shetty expressing concern over the rise in cases and urging the civic administration to take immediate measures.

KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel and Mayor Harshali Chaudhari inspected the civic dog centre on Monday and reviewed the measures being taken. Goel said there were more than 80,000 stray dogs in the KDMC area and directed officials to identify hotspots over the next two days and accelerate the sterilisation programme. The capacity of the dog centre would also be increased, officials said.

The civic administration is also expected to intensify dog-catching operations over the next one to two days in areas where repeated complaints have been received. Animal lover Sunish Subramaniam suggested that a ward-level programme be implemented to tackle the stray dog population in Kalyan-Dombivli.

The sudden increase in dog-bite cases in Kalyan has raised concerns about the safety of residents and the need for effective measures to control the stray dog population. The KDMC's efforts to intensify sterilisation and dog-catching operations are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the root cause of the problem.

In conclusion, the recent surge in dog-bite cases in Kalyan is a cause for concern, and the KDMC's response to the situation is being closely watched. The civic administration's efforts to control the stray dog population and prevent further incidents will be crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of residents in the area.