Bhopal Stray Dog Menace: 70-80 Bitten Daily

In Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the stray dog problem is worsening, with around 70-80 people reportedly bitten every day. Many of the victims are children. On Sunday, an eight-year-old girl was severely mauled by a stray dog while returning from school in Karond's Ward-78. Another girl was bitten in Kapila Nagar Phase-2.

Residents said packs of more than 15 dogs frequently roam the area, creating fear among locals. In Danish Nagar's Kunjan Nagar, around half a dozen dogs regularly gather near Vaishnav Dham Temple and a kindergarten, putting devotees and young children at risk.

The onset of the monsoon has made dog packs more aggressive, while attacks in residential areas have raised concerns over the safety of children and pedestrians. The Supreme Court had directed authorities in August 2025 to capture stray dogs and keep them in shelters. However, Bhopal is yet to establish such a shelter.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo motu cognisance of the dog-bite issue in Bhopal and is expected to hear the matter this week. The state government will submit its status report, which will be followed by a court hearing.

Several fatal attacks have been reported in Bhopal in the past. In January 2024, a seven-month-old child and a four-year-old child died after stray-dog attacks. Fatal incidents were also reported in Bhainsakhedi, Gautam Nagar, Awadhpuri, and other areas in earlier years.

The city is estimated to have around 1.2 lakh stray dogs. The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) receives about 15 complaints related to stray dogs every day. It has three Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres with a combined capacity of only around 600 dogs. Around 20 to 25 dogs are sterilised and vaccinated daily.

The corporation claims to have sterilised more than 81,000 dogs in five years and spent around Rs 8.56 crore on sterilisation and vaccination. However, Bhopal still has no permanent stray-dog shelter. Municipal commissioner Sanskriti Jain said that teams are actively working to capture and sterilise stray dogs and that special drives will be conducted in sensitive areas.

The lack of a permanent stray-dog shelter and limited sterilisation capacity are major concerns in addressing the stray dog menace in Bhopal. The High Court's hearing this week is expected to bring some relief to the residents of Bhopal who are living in fear of stray dog attacks.

The stray dog problem in Bhopal is a complex issue that requires immediate attention from the authorities. The city's residents are hoping that the High Court's intervention will lead to a solution to this long-standing problem. With the number of stray dog bites on the rise, it is essential that the authorities take concrete steps to address this issue and ensure the safety of the citizens.

In conclusion, the stray dog menace in Bhopal is a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently. The High Court's hearing this week is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that the authorities will take concrete steps to solve this problem and provide relief to the residents of Bhopal.