Patna: The rising population of stray dogs has wreaked havoc in Bihar, resulting in alarming increase in the case of dog bites. Last year alone, more than 700,000 people fell victims to dog bites which mean an average 2,000 people are becoming its victims every day in the state, indicating the gravity of the situation. Reports also say dog bites have claimed around 150 lives in the past four years.
According to an official report, a total of 1.12 million people became victims of dog bites in the past three year with the last year proving quite deadlier for the masses. A total of 703,925 people were bitten by street dogs in 2012, followed by 268,953 people falling victims to canine menace in 2011 and 156,442 in the preceding year.
Officials said the incidents of dog bite have shot up alarmingly across the state in the recent years owing the failures of the municipal authorities to contain the rising canine menace. According to a latest report of animal count, the total population of street dogs in Bihar is around 150,000 while the state government, at the moment, has no concrete measures or plans to control their booming population or catch them. As a result of which, the unclaimed dogs roam freely on the streets and bit the people coming their way.
Of them, maximum numbers of streets dogs have captured the streets of Patna, capital city of Bihar, getting attracted to leftovers normally thrown along the city roads by the citizens. Their population appeared to have increased in winter with the arrival of new puppies.
Very recently, the Patna municipal authorities had planned to launch sterilisation drive for streets dogs in a bid to cut down on their number and protect residents from being bitten. The municipal authorities even floated tenders for hiring an agency that would sterilise stray dogs but the initiate failed.
Earlier, the municipal authorities came with an idea to serve poison-mixed sweets to the stray dogs so that they can die peacefully in sleep. The idea was the brainchild of former municipal commissioner KP Ramaiah who soon after taking over his office launched aggressive campaigns to remove strays like cattle, pigs and dogs. The official’s contention was that freely roaming stray animals along the main streets spoil the impression of a city but his idea met with strong protests from animal lovers. Eventually, the idea had to be shelved.
