Government Negligence Causing Dog Attacks On Children: Harish Rao

"The recent horrifying news of stray dogs brutally attacking and killing a helpless infant has shaken me to my core. Despite such tragic, heart-wrenching incidents, the Congress government remains indifferent. It's shocking that the government stays unmoved while children in the State are falling victims to dog bites. This is not just negligence - it's outright disregard for human life," BRS senior leader & former minister T Harish Rao said today.

Rao lamented that dog attacks and related fatalities had become alarmingly common in Telangana. "We have repeatedly warned the government about the rising number of dog bite cases, yet it has done nothing. This year alone, over 60,000 dog bite cases have been reported, leading to the loss of many innocent lives. Families are left devastated by these tragic, preventable deaths. The situation is worsened by the government's failure to control the stray dog population or ensure that life-saving anti-rabies injections are available in public hospitals," he said.

"There are over two million stray dogs across Telangana, with more than one million in the GHMC area alone. This highlights the government's total failure in managing the crisis. Even though the situation is out of control, the government has not released funds for sterilization operations, which are crucial for managing the stray dog population," he added.

He claimed that sanitation had collapsed across the State, with garbage piling up in the streets contributing to the growing stray dog menace. Municipal authorities and the urban development department had failed to act, and this failure was costing lives, he said.

"The High Court has already reprimanded the State government for not preventing deaths from dog bites, yet the government remains asleep. Despite the High Court's directive to develop a comprehensive action plan, the State has failed to announce or implement any meaningful measures. The government should immediately adopt proven strategies from other States like Goa, which has successfully prevented dog bite deaths for the last three years. Telangana should follow this example without delay," Rao said.

"We also demand that the State government follow the precedents set by the Haryana and Punjab High Courts by providing Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of those who die from dog bites and Rs 50,000 to those who are injured. The government must ensure that all public hospitals provide immediate treatment for dog bite victims, and that anti-rabies injections are available at all primary health centres and hospitals. In line with the High Court's directive, the State must set up committees to manage the stray dog population and launch sterilization drives in every village and town," he added.