Stray dog menace escalates, HMT Rose Avenue residents fear for safety

Srinagar, Sep 3: The ongoing sterilization campaign by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) seems to be doing little to curb the growing stray dog problem here as the residents from various localities, particularly Rose Avenue in HMT area, have raised alarms over the increasing number of aggressive stray dog population.
The local residents said that the rising number of stray dogs has made it nearly impossible for them to move around safely in the area.
Several locals from Rose Avenue HMT, said that the streets were so infested with stray dogs that parents are afraid to let their children walk to school.
“It has become dangerous even to step out during the day, let alone early morning or evening hours,” said Irfan Rasool, a resident of the area.
He added that carrying a stick for protection has become a necessity.
According to the residents, last month a team from the SMC picked up the stray dogs in their area, possibly for conducting sterilization.
However, just days later, they said that they observed the dog population up by 10 times from the existing number.
Underscoring the gravity of the situation, locals in the area said that the fear of being attacked by these dogs is real, and without a stick, one might not feel safe to venture out of the home.
Gulzar Ahmad, a local resident, said that this has led to fear among the locals, who feel the situation is spiralling out of control.
“We are seeing more dogs than ever before. The SMC needs to be more accountable for where and how these dogs are managed,” he said.
The issue has become so severe that residents are accusing the SMC of failing to monitor the areas where dogs are picked up and dropped after sterilization. A senior citizen from Rose Avenue noted, “If anything untoward happens, the SMC will be responsible.”
Adding to the concerns, as per the reports, the Anti-Rabies Clinic at SMHS hospital has reported over 8,000 cases of dog bites from April 2023 to March 2024, with most of these incidents occurring in Srinagar.
Residents in the area have urged upon the SMC to take immediate and effective action to control the stray dog population and ensure the safety of the inhabitants in the area. (KNO)