GMCH medical superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande said the child was brought on Feb 16 with a history of a dog bite. He had received some doses of the anti-rabies vaccine earlier as per records, but the vaccination regimen was not completed. “The bite had occurred on Jan 25, and there was a delay in seeking comprehensive treatment. For the last two days, the child had developed hydrophobia symptoms, which are indicative of advanced rabies. Incomplete vaccination and late presentation significantly increased the risk and contributed to the unfortunate outcome.” The incident has cast a shadow of mourning over the city and sparked fear among parents. Locals reported a rise in stray dog attacks and about 12 people falling victims recently. Locals have alleged that despite repeated complaints, the municipal council failed to take concrete measures to control the stray dog menace.Arvi municipal council chief officer Kiran Sukulwar said, “As soon as we received information about the incident, the concerned rabid dog was caught.”Following the tragedy, residents have demanded that the municipal council immediately launch a dog-catching drive along with vaccination and sterilisation campaigns. Arvi MLA Sumit Wankhede said, “The incident is unfortunate. The entire city stands with Dhaval’s family in their grief.” Wankhede stressed the need for rabies prevention measures and sterilisation drives to prevent such incidents in the future. He said the municipal council has initiated a campaign in this regard. “Citizens and animal welfare organisations should cooperate with the administration,” he added.
