Patna: At least 39 people were bitten by stray dogs in Patna’s Phulwari Sharif area on Friday, triggering panic among residents and renewed criticism of the local administration’s handling of the city’s growing stray animal problem.
The attacks were reported from several localities, including Balmiki Nagar, Govindpur, and Naya Tola, where packs of dogs targeted pedestrians, children, and motorcyclists. Residents described scenes of chaos as people rushed to escape the animals, with many sustaining injuries while trying to flee.
Twenty of the injured were taken to the emergency department of AIIMS Patna for treatment, while 19 others received anti-rabies injections at the Phulwari Sharif Community Health Centre (CHC). Health officials confirmed that one of the patients treated at the CHC was a child.
Doctors at AIIMS said the sudden influx of dog-bite victims was unusual and overwhelming. “We received around 20 to 21 patients with dog-bite injuries in a short span of time,” an emergency department source said, adding that all were given immediate medical care.
Sipra Chauhan, manager of the CHC, said: “Nineteen people came to us for treatment after being bitten by stray dogs. All were administered anti-rabies vaccines as per protocol.”
Residents, however, blamed the incident on what they described as the failure of municipal authorities to implement effective sterilisation and population control measures. They alleged that official claims of sterilisation drives existed largely “on paper”, while in reality, stray dogs continued to roam freely in large numbers.
“Every da,y people are attacked, but action is limited to discussions in board meetings,” said a resident. “There is no visible work on the ground. The dogs move in packs, and the fear is real.”
Public health experts warn that repeated incidents of mass dog bites pose serious risks, including the spread of rabies, which remains a fatal disease if not treated in time. They stress the need for sustained sterilisation campaigns, vaccination of stray animals, and better coordination between health and municipal authorities.
The incident has intensified pressure on the Phulwari Sharif Nagar Parishad to act swiftly, with residents demanding immediate measures to control the stray dog population and prevent further attacks.
