13 Bitten by Stray Dog in Odisha’s Gunupur, Civic Body Launches Hunt

13 Bitten by Stray Dog in Odisha’s Gunupur, Civic Body Launches Hunt

Repeated attacks had caused anxiety among residents, particularly parents concerned about children travelling to and from school.

Bhubaneswar: At least 13 people, including a number of residents travelling through different parts of Gunupur in Odisha’s Rayagada district, have reportedly been bitten by a stray dog over the past four days, triggering concern among residents and prompting the local municipality to launch efforts to capture the animal.

The victims were taken to the Gunupur Sub-Divisional Hospital, where they received treatment for their injuries. Hospital sources said those who reported dog-bite injuries were administered anti-rabies injections and vaccinations and advised to return for subsequent doses.

Attending physician Dr Pratyush Biswal said around 12 people had visited the hospital following dog-bite incidents.

“They were administered injections and vaccinations and were given medicines and advice on wound care. They were also asked to return for the remaining doses of the vaccination,” Dr Biswal said.

One of the victims, Arun Padhi, said he was attacked while riding a motorcycle. According to him, the dog suddenly bit him, causing him to lose balance and fall from the vehicle, before attacking his arm.

Padhi said the repeated attacks had caused anxiety among residents, particularly parents concerned about children travelling to and from school.

“I was travelling by bike when the dog suddenly attacked me. I fell from the vehicle and the dog bit my arm. I immediately went to a hospital for treatment,” he said, urging the civic authorities to capture the animal before it attacks more people.

The Gunupur Municipality has deployed its staff to locate and capture the dog and has reportedly sought assistance from personnel equipped to handle stray animals. However, efforts to catch it have so far proved unsuccessful.

The attacks have also triggered criticism of the civic authorities, with residents questioning the preparedness of the municipality to deal with stray-animal incidents.

Residents said the authorities should put in place a more effective mechanism for dealing with stray dogs, including trained personnel and adequate veterinary support, to prevent further attacks.

Municipal officials continued their search for the animal at the time of filing this report.