Dog menace sparks fear in Bilal Colony Soura

Srinagar, Nov 9: Residents of Bilal Colony in Soura have expressed serious concern over the growing menace of stray dogs in the area, saying the situation has become unsafe, particularly for children and the elderly.

Locals said packs of stray dogs roam the lanes throughout the day, chasing pedestrians and school-going children. “People are scared to step out after evening. Several children have already been bitten in recent weeks,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a resident.

Residents blamed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for failing to control the stray population despite repeated complaints. “We have filed written requests, but no sterilisation or relocation drive has been conducted here,” said another local.

The residents urged the SMC to launch immediate sterilisation and vaccination drives and deploy dog-catching teams in the area to ensure the safety of the public before the situation worsens further.