Canine Horror: ‘We live in fear after dusk’: Locals decry growing stray dog menace in Baramulla

Baramulla, Oct 12: Residents of north Kashmir’s Baramulla town and adjoining villages have voiced serious concern over the alarming rise in the population of stray dogs, which they say has turned daily life into a nightmare.

From the main town to rural belts, the streets are overrun by packs of dogs, posing a constant threat to pedestrians, schoolchildren, and the elderly. Despite repeated appeals, locals allege that the administration has failed to take any concrete steps to control the situation.

In one recent incident, a schoolgirl from Kanlibagh was mauled by stray dogs, leaving her severely injured. Similar attacks have been reported from several areas of the district in recent weeks.

Muhammad Aslam, a resident of Chakla Baramulla, said he was attacked by a pack of dogs while stepping out for evening prayers. “I managed to escape only with the help of my neighbours. It’s unsafe to move out after dusk now,” he said.

Locals blame the Municipal Council Baramulla and the Animal Husbandry Department for their failure to implement sterilisation and vaccination drives. “The dog population has reached an alarming level. If immediate action isn’t taken, we’ll be left at their mercy,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, another resident.

According to a recent report, Jammu and Kashmir ranks second in India in terms of the dog-to-human ratio—a worrying statistic that underscores the growing public health and safety risks, including the spread of rabies.

Residents have urged the district administration to launch an aggressive sterilisation and vaccination campaign to curb the menace before it spirals further out of control.