Kadangode: A village in Thrissur district has been plunged into mourning and terror following a "predatory" stray dog attack that left an elderly, bedridden woman dead and her disabled son with severe injuries.

The victim, identified as Karthiyani, was found in her home in Kadangode by her son, Manikandan, who had arrived on Thursday afternoon to deliver the family’s meal. Witnesses described a "scene of unimaginable horror." According to local reports, the animal had entered the property through an open grille and launched a sustained assault on the defenceless occupants.

Medical responders and local officials were visibly shaken by the severity of the injuries. "One needed a heart of stone to witness it," remarked an ambulance driver at the scene, noting that the victim had suffered catastrophic facial trauma.

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Karthiyani’s son, Devadas, who suffers from pre-existing physical ailments, was found cowering in another room as the animal reportedly "gnawed" at his feet. He has since been hospitalised, having lost four toes in the attack. A third man, a labourer who rushed to the family's aid after hearing Manikandan’s screams, was also bitten before the animal fled into the surrounding areas.

The tragedy has highlighted the precarious living conditions of the family. The household was already struggling under the weight of significant debt, with the family home—a dilapidated, tile-roofed structure—reportedly facing repossession. Karthiyani had been immobile for two years following a fall, leaving her entirely vulnerable to the intrusion.

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The local community is now effectively under a self-imposed lockdown. Panicked residents in Kadangode have shuttered their homes, fearing the animal remains at large. Groups of local youths, accompanied by police officers, have begun a "manhunt" for the dog, patrolling the streets armed with iron rods and bamboo sticks.

Panchayat official P.N. Vishaykumar assisted in transporting the victims to the Government Medical College. The area has long been plagued by a high stray dog population, attributed partly to the local leather-processing industry.

The incident has reignited a debate regarding Kerala’s escalating stray dog crisis.