Unchecked stray dog menace grips Srinagar

Srinagar, Nov 8: Failure of authorities to check growing population of stray dogs in the summer capital is taking a toll on people.
The problem has been compounded by the slow sterilization process by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).

Presence of a large number of stray dogs on roads is hampering movement of pedestrians. Scores of stray dogs are even present in the city's commercial hub Lal Chowk causing inconvenience to visitors.
“Smart City doesn’t only mean beautification but ensuring the safety of people. Presence of hundreds of stray dogs not only takes sheen off Srinagar but importantly poses risk to lives of pedestrians especially kids and elderly,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a pedestrian while pointing towards packs of stray dogs near refurbished Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk.
There has been a rise in dog bite cases in Srinagar in absence of measures to check the population of stray dogs.

“It is ironic that authorities have failed to check the growing population of stray dogs. All market areas are full of stray dogs and this hampers movement of people,” said Bashir Ahamd, a shopkeeper in Downtown.

Greater Kashmir received complaints from various Srinagar areas about growing menace of stray dogs. The locals said that open waste dumpers on roads have become a breeding ground for dogs. “Along Shalimar Hazratbal road and Hazratbal Habak area, there are multiple places where packs of dogs are seen on roads. At these spots, these stray dogs attack commuters on two-wheelers, posing a risk of accidents,” said Shahid, a local from Zukura.

An official from Srinagar Municipal Corporation said that it has started a major sterilisation drive in Srinagar.
“We have also started the Tengpora sterilisation facility, which will help us perform more surgeries to keep the population of dogs in check,” he said
SMC Commissioner Athar Aamir Khan recently said that the first sterilisation phase in around eight municipal wards of Srinagar has been completed.

“There is a long way to go, and we have to keep going for next year as well so that there will be a significant change,” he said.
As per the recent data from the Anti-Rabies Clinic at SMHS Hospital, between April to October 2023, Srinagar recorded 346 canine bite cases, which is the highest number across Kashmir.

“Even if 50 dogs are sterilised in a day, it will take years to complete the process as over one lakh dogs are present in Srinagar city alone. There is need to devise a comprehensive strategy to check the stray dog menace as it is endangering the lives of people,” said Abdul Hamid, a Srinagar resident.