In a shocking revelation by Sadar Hospital authorities, as many as 100-150 cases of dog bites are reported on daily basis throughout the year.
Despite Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) making tall claims to control the increasing population of stray dogs in the district, they are seen roaming freely across the streets of Ranchi creating havoc among people, particularly children and senior citizens.
The hospital authorities, however, claimed that they are fully prepared with ample stock of anti-rabies injections.
“We have sufficient stock of both anti-rabies and anti-venom injections in the hospital and whoever is coming with a dog bite is given anti-rabies injections,” said Deputy Superintendent of Sadar Hospital Dr AK Jha. Also, there are very few cases of snake bite for which we are fully prepared, he said.
According to Jha, there is no remarkable increase in dog bite cases during monsoon as the cases entertained by us on daily basis is already very high due to the uncontrolled population of stray dogs in the district. “On an average we are getting at least 100-150 cases of dog bites in a day from the district that is being taken care properly by the hospital staff,” added Jha.
Most of the people attacked by the stray dogs during their morning walks, even small children of age group of 2-3 years are not spared by them.
“My son was playing with other children in front of my house. All of a sudden a group of dogs came in fighting with each other and bite my son on his leg,” said mother of a three-year child Geeta Kacchap.
Jha suggested that a well coordinated effort by the municipal bodies along with an intensive awareness programme is a must to
control them.
Hope and Animal Trust, the NGO which has been assigned for sterilizing stray dogs however, claimed that as many as 20,000 dogs so far have been sterilized by the organization in the last four years.
“The results could not be seen on the ground till date because of some people who create obstructions by not letting us take away the dogs claiming them to be their pets. Those dogs which are left remain free to breed resulting in further increasing their numbers,” said Secretary of Hope and Animal Trust, Praveen Ohal.
Ohal also asserted that the government lacks coordination and commitment in removing the menace of stray dogs. “An awareness programme is also needed desperately in order to remove glitches in the sterilization programme,” Ohal added.
Besides, non availability of space is also a big problem for us. “We have to sit back idle for these two peak months of their breeding season of August and September as the space given for the sterilization purposes at Bakri Bazar is occupied by the Durga Puja Samiti during which the dogs get ample breeding time further increasing their population, Ohal said.
He, however, admitted that the results of the sterilization being done by the organization could only be felt on the ground after a few years.
“The results of the sterilization done by us could only be felt on the ground only after they die after 2-3 years as the dogs have an average life span of 5-6 years,” said Ohal.
Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) CEO Manoj Kumar, on the other hand, claimed that the sterilization programme for dogs is going on and results will be seen on the ground very soon.
The organization has only one vehicle to carry the dogs after catching the dogs and a team of 15 people, including two doctors have been engaged for the sterilization programme. Sources in RMC, however, revealed that the contract between RMC and Hope has lapsed and is yet to be renewed which is also a reason behind the increasing number of stray dogs in Ranchi.