Dhanbad: A stray dog reportedly bit 18 people in Nirsa on Saturday, adding to the growing fear among residents over the stray dog menace in Dhanbad. While 13 injured people were treated at Nirsa Community Health Centre, five seriously injured victims were referred to Shri Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH) for advanced treatment.The incident deepened fear among residents in both urban and rural areas, with many saying daily movement has become unsafe. People complain that parks, markets, bus stands, railway stations, school premises, hospital campuses and residential colonies are increasingly being overrun by packs of aggressive stray dogs that chase pedestrians, bark at visitors and sometimes attack children.Golf Ground Park, which attracts hundreds of visitors every morning and evening, is among the worst-hit places. Housing Colony resident Arvinder Kaur said she regularly visits the park with her children but cannot leave them unattended as stray dogs often surround and chase youngsters. Hirapur resident Raju Singh said morning walkers frequently face packs of dogs rushing at them, causing panic and raising the risk of scratches and bites.Former Dhanbad mayor Chandrashekhar Agrawal, a daily visitor to Golf Ground, said he raised the matter with the municipal commissioner, but the situation remained unchanged. He said stray dogs became a serious concern not only in parks but also at the bus stand, railway station and several residential localities.Residents said repeated complaints from public institutions have also failed to bring visible action. Earlier, the principal of SNMMCH wrote to Dhanbad Municipal Corporation, expressing concern over the rising number of stray dogs inside the medical college campus and urging immediate control measures. The principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Vinod Nagar, also sought action over the dog menace on school premises.The threat already claimed a life. On May 2, 5-year-old Ankit Yadav, who was playing outside his home in Yadav Basti under Gondudih police outpost, died after a pack of stray dogs attacked him, triggering outrage in the area.Dhanbad Municipal Corporation, however, maintains that it is implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme. Veterinary doctor Deepanjali Marandi said around 21,046 stray dogs have been sterilised and administered anti-rabies vaccines. She added that an average of 25 dogs are captured daily for sterilisation and vaccination.
Stray dogs at Randhir Verma stadium in Dhanbad
A dog bite patient undergoes treatment in Nirsa
