A panic gripped Chitradurga after a pack of stray dogs attacked four children who were playing near their homes, the police said. The incident took place in Chelagudda and Nehru Nagar and raised new concerns about stray dogs coming into homes.
The kids were playing outside their houses when the stray dogs suddenly chased and attacked them, local sources said. Residents rushed to the rescue after hearing the children’s cries and brought them to safety from the dogs.
Four Children Hospitalised
All four children sustained bite injuries and were taken to Chitradurga District Hospital immediately for treatment. The hospital is providing necessary medical treatment for anti-rabies and wound care.
The condition of the children is stable today, but families and residents were left shaken up, they said.
Residents Demand Immediate Action
The attack has enraged residents in the neighbourhood who are urging the city to begin a quick drive to capture and control stray dogs in the neighbourhood.
Parents voiced their fear for children’s safety and said fear has spread to the whole neighbourhood following the incident. They said that the stray dog population should be closely monitored and humanely managed to prevent such attacks from happening again.
Stray Dog Menace Increasing Concern
Stray dog attacks have become more common in several parts of Karnataka, particularly in residential colonies where children frequently play outdoors. Residents say repeated complaints about stray dogs have not resulted in effective long-term measures.
Civic bodies could strengthen animal birth control (ABC) programmes, vaccination campaigns, and relocation measures where necessary, but public safety should also be ensured, they say.
Authorities Urged to Act
Residents are asking Chitradurga municipal authorities to take necessary action now that the incident took place and to act immediately to correct it.
They are calling for capturing aggressive stray dogs in the affected areas, strengthening sterilisation and vaccination programmes, increasing surveillance in residential areas, and launching awareness campaigns on handling stray animal encounters.
There is a need for balanced and effective stray animal management for public safety and humane treatment of animals.
