Representative Photo

GHAZIABAD: A five-year-old boy was mauled by a pack of dogs near the compound of an under-construction commercial hub in Crossings Republik on Tuesday morning.

The boy, Ashiq, has been admitted to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi with serious injuries. According to Tarun Chauhan, president, Crossings Republik Owners and Members Association (CROMA), the boy received injuries on his chest, hand and private parts and right eye as he was attacked by six to seven dogs.

According to the boy’s father, Mominul Haq, a mason, he had brought his son to his work site in the morning. Around 10 am, the boy entered a nearby green belt to drink water when a few dogs pounced on him. A few locals in the vicinity rushed to his rescue.

Haq said he was working as a mason at an under-construction commercial hub, Assotech, for the past 25 days. Temporary shelters have been provided to all workers at the site itself.

On Tuesday, he had brought Ashiq and his younger brother to the spot where he was working.

“I generally do not let him leave my sight. Since I was busy, I allowed him to go to the green belt located at some distance to drink water. Suddenly I heard barkings of a large number of dogs and found Ashiq lying in a pool of blood. Some locals had come to his rescue, but dogs had bitten him by them,” Haq added.

Ashiq was first taken to a private hospital at Crossings Republik and then rushed to a government hospital in Noida. Later, he was admitted to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi.

Tarun said Crossings Republik has been grappling with stray dog menace for a long time now. “There is no society in the area where dog bite cases have not taken place. It has been on the rise, but the authorities have done little to curb the menace.”

He added that CROMA would provide monetary assistance to Haq for the treatment of his son. According to residents, more than 15 cases of dog bites have taken place in GH-7 residential society alone in the past six-seven months.

People for Animals district president Sumedha Iyer said a team would be send to catch stray dogs on Wednesday.

