Ramban witnesses 2 deaths; 30 dog bite cases in 2023

Ramban, Jan 7: Two persons, including an Assistant Sub Inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), lost their lives due to rabies whereas around 30 dog bite cases were reported across Ramban district in the year 2023.

Assistant Sub Inspector Mohammad Rafiq, a resident of village Zaradi, Neel, in sub division Ramsu of Ramban was bitten by a rabies-infected dog in May 2023, while performing duties in Police Station Ramban. Three months after he was diagnosed with rabies by the doctors in AIIMS New Delhi. He later succumbed to rabies in August 2023.

In another case, a civilian Surinder Singh, 27, son of Gareeb Singh, resident of village Phagmulla tehsil Pogal Paristan, district Ramban also fell prey to rabies. He died due to rabies on October 11, 2023 after suffering a dog-bite.

On the next day i.e., October 11, SDM Ramsoo Ghansham Basotra and Tehsildar Ramsu Nasir Javid along with a medical team of doctors from PHC Ukhral reached Upper Phagmulla of tehsil Pogal, Paristan in Ukhral of Ramban for general awareness about rabies and vaccination.

During the investigation, it was found that the youth was bitten by a dog three months ago and later he died due to Rabies.

Following it, 40 persons, who were in contact with the deceased youth of Phagmulla, were vaccinated and that (presumably rabid) dog was also killed.

Dog bite cases are reported frequently from Batote, Gool, Ramban, Ramsu and Banihal.

As per locals, three Municipal Councils of Batote, Ramban and Banihal do not have mechanisms to check or conduct tests of domestic as well as stray dogs to find out whether the canines are affected with rabies or not. “There is no such facility or exercise where dogs could be tested for rabies,” they point out.

Dr Ayob Wani, posted at District Hospital Ramban, advises people to go for immediate treatment if bitten by a dog.

However, Health department Ramban officials claimed that hospitals across districts were fully equipped for dog bite cases and anti-rabies vaccine was available in all the PHCs, CHCs and District Hospital Ramban.

Sharing another concern, locals say that the stray dog population has increased across the district significantly and accordingly, the dog bite cases have also registered a surge.

“Due to lack of awareness, people are ignoring dog bites for months assuming it to be a minor one. On the other hand, the administration has no mechanism to conduct immunization or sterilization of stray dogs,” they rue.

People have requested the administration to direct the concerned department to take necessary steps to immunize the domestic and stray dogs so that in case of dog bite, lethal diseases like rabies could be stopped from spreading in the area.