Stray Dog Menace Sparks Fear in Anantnag, Locals Slam Authorities for Inaction

The growing menace of stray dogs in South Kashmir’s Anantnag town has sparked widespread fear among residents, who say the number of dog bite incidents is rising at an alarming rate. Locals from areas such as Lazbal, Kadipora, Dangarpora, and Kha Bazar report that one or two people are bitten almost daily, yet authorities have taken little to no concrete action.Packs of stray dogs roaming freely have created panic—especially among children, women, and the elderly. Parents say they are increasingly hesitant to allow their children to walk to school or play outdoors due to repeated attacks.“Children can’t even go to tuition without fear. Packs of dogs chase them, and almost every day someone is bitten,” said a resident of Kadipora, speaking to Kashmir News Trust.Frustrated residents accuse the Anantnag Municipal Council of ignoring the situation despite repeated complaints.“We’ve been demanding action for months. The problem is only getting worse, but the municipality seems content with issuing statements instead of taking real steps,” said a shopkeeper in Lazbal.Many blame poor waste management for worsening the crisis, pointing to open garbage dumps and unmanaged waste that attract and sustain stray dog populations. Locals are urging authorities to implement effective garbage disposal and launch sterilisation drives.“If the municipality clears garbage regularly and takes sterilisation seriously, the problem can be brought under control. But right now, we see no real effort,” a resident added.Health officials at Government Medical College Anantnag confirmed a steady rise in dog bite cases. Medical staff said they are treating one to two new cases every day, ranging from minor injuries to more serious wounds requiring anti-rabies treatment.“We are providing anti-rabies vaccines regularly, but the only long-term solution is to control the stray dog population,” a medical officer said.With fear spreading and trust in the administration eroding, locals are demanding immediate and sustained intervention to tackle the growing threat.