More than 200 people were bitten by stray and rabid dogs in and around the Indira Gandhi Park locality here in the last three days.
Such a large number of patients have been given medical since Sunday, doctors at the Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) said.
RGH Director Dr Dinabandhu Panda said that on an average 70 to 80 dog bite cases are reported at the hospital every day, but the count went up to 141 on Sunday after the biting spree in the Indira Gandhi Park area.
He said it was difficult to calculate the exact number of people who became victims to stray dogs in last three days as the hospital received a mixed variety of patients coming for administration of the anti-rabies vaccine.
Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) Deputy Commissioner Sudhansu Bhoi said, “We have started a dog catching operation. We are going to keep the animals in our kennel.” Steps for sterilisation of dogs would also be undertaken, he added.
Local MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak visited the RGH and took stock of the situation, especially about availability of vaccine. “I have also spoken to RMC officials about the dog menace,” he said.