Stray dog attacks leave over 15 injured in Karnataka within 70 hours

Bhatkal: More than 15 individuals have been injured in stray dog attacks across Bhatkal town in Karnataka over the past 70 hours, according to health officials on Tuesday. Although no fatalities have been reported, the majority of those injured include children and elderly residents.

The attacks reportedly began on 6 July and have since seen a steady rise. Victims were primarily bitten while walking through residential neighbourhoods or local marketplaces. All those injured have received medical attention at nearby hospitals, with many administered anti-rabies vaccinations as a precaution.

The growing number of incidents has caused widespread alarm among locals, who are now urging the municipal authorities to take swift and decisive action. Several residents have alleged that previous complaints about the increasing stray dog population were overlooked by civic officials.

In response, representatives from Bhatkal Municipality stated they are closely monitoring the situation and intend to commence a sterilisation and rescue operation in the coming days. The Animal Husbandry Department is also expected to support the initiative by identifying and managing particularly aggressive dogs.