Stray dog menace leaves Jawahar Nagar residents on edge

Srinagar, May 29: Residents of the Government Colony Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar are living in a state of fear and distress due to the alarming rise in the stray dog population in their locality.

The issue, which has been escalating over the past few months, has created widespread inconvenience and potential risks for the residents, particularly children and the elderly.

A delegation from the Welfare Association Jawahar Nagar has voiced their concerns, stating that the locals are under constant threat of dog attacks. "No day passes without an incident related to dog attacks," said Abdul Majid, a local resident.

"We are living in constant fear. Our school-going children and elderly are afraid to venture out, and soon, the dog population here will outnumber us."

The stray dog crisis has severely impacted the daily lives of Jawahar Nagar residents, making it increasingly difficult for them to step out of their homes, especially after sundown. The darkness of the night, coupled with the presence of packs of stray dogs roaming the streets, has made venturing out an extremely risky proposition.

"Going out after sundown has become impossible for us," said Fayaz Ahmad, a resident. "The streets are taken over by these dogs, and we fear for our safety. It's like living in a constant state of siege."

The residents' fears are not unfounded, as tragic incidents involving stray dog attacks on children have been reported in Kashmir in the past. The memory of such harrowing events has only added to the collective sense of dread and anxiety among the locals.

"We have seen dogs killing children in Kashmir before," said Ishfaq Mir, another resident, his voice laced with concern. "If this issue is not tackled immediately, we fear that we may continue to suffer such tragic incidents. The authorities claim they are addressing the problem, but the reality on the ground is that the stray dog population is only increasing day by day."

Frustrated by the lack of action, the residents have taken matters into their own hands, writing numerous letters and pleas to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and the Grievance Cell, urging them to intervene and resolve the crisis. However, their efforts have yielded little result so far.

"We have written to the authorities multiple times, but our pleas seem to be falling on deaf ears," residents said. "We are desperately waiting for them to take concrete steps to address this issue before it spirals out of control."

Despite repeated attempts by this reporter to reach out to officials from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation for a comment, there was no response from their end.