Budgam Sep 8 : Residents of several villages across Budgam district have expressed growing concern over the increasing population of stray dogs in rural areas, saying the issue has created a sense of fear among residents, particularly children, women and elderly people.
Gulzar Ahmad, a taxi driver, said the stray dog population in rural parts of the district has increased considerably over the past few years.
“The stray dog population has increased in many rural areas of Budgam during the last few years. However, there is no dedicated department dealing with the issue in villages ,” he said.
Ahmad pointed out that while the district has six municipal committees that deal with stray dog-related issues within their jurisdictions, a similar mechanism is lacking in rural areas.
“There are six municipal committees in Budgam district where work related to the stray dog population is being carried out. However, there is no department specifically working on this issue in the rural areas across the district” he said.
He further said that several residents have reportedly suffered injuries in dog attacks, while hospitals are also receiving patients with dog-bite injuries.
Tanzeela Bano, a college student, said the growing presence of stray dogs has also raised concerns among parents and students, many parents are reluctant to allow their children to travel to school alone due to the fear of stray dog attacks.
“Parents are dropping their children at schools because they are not confident about allowing them to travel alone. People are also feeling unsafe while visiting their agricultural and horticultural fields, where stray dogs are frequently seen roaming,” she said.
Bano said the presence of stray dogs in agricultural and horticultural fields has become a particular concern for residents, who fear being attacked while carrying out routine farming activities.
She urged the district administration to identify villages where the stray dog population has increased significantly and take appropriate measures to address the problem.
According to Bano, children, elderly people and women are among those who feel particularly vulnerable while visiting schools, colleges, agricultural fields, mosques,and other places for their daily activities.
