

The canine terror continues in the city notwithstanding the chill that keeps most of the people indoors. The stray dogs are lurking in the street corners, public parks and markets in the parts of the city causing dozens of dog bite cases in city hospitals.

People hesitate to venture out of some areas. "We hesitate to venture out after dark due to the dog menace. On a walk down the city roads one can witness dozens of stray dogs roaming freely, feasting on garbage and chasing residents,” said Riyaz Ahmad resident of Qamarwari here.

His neighbour Ali Mohammad said that dogs chase people even during the day. At least 20 to 25 dogs can be spotted near Qamarwari playground.

According to residents, the authorities have failed to initiate any concrete efforts to control the problem, despite many complaints.

Reports said that about SMHS hospital receiving 20 dog bite cases on daily basis. In last three years 16000 dog bite cases were received at the hospital. Srinagar alone has received highest 3300 dog bite cases in 2019-20.

Aftab Ahmad from Batamaloo area of the city, said children are unable to go to tuitions alone as they usually become the prey of dogs.

According to him, absence of waste management has led to the growing population of dogs in the area. Even sweepers do not clean the roads, lanes regularly and heaps of garbage becomes a source of food for the dogs particularly around General Bus Stand Batamaloo.

The city authorities do not have any statistics on the stray dogs in the city, “The garbage dumps across the city offer attractive feasts to street dogs. Because they feed lavishly on the waste,” said Mohammad Zubair, a resident of Hamzah colony Bemina here.

People in Karan Nagar said that during morning and evening hours dogs are triggering panic with many scared of coming out of their houses.

The authorities had failed to check the menace. “For the past six years the SMC admits that the stray dog population has reached alarming proportions with more than a lakh prowling in Srinagar only but SMC turns blind eye towards the issue,” said senior citizen Ghulam Nabi of the area.

As per an estimate, there are around one lakh dogs in Srinagar. “This is a major problem for all of us. Stray dogs bite people, chase them when they go to prayers early in the morning, and scare away children,” Nazir Ahmad, a resident of HMT said.

A senior official blamed local residents for littering the streets without thinking of the consequences. Stopping the habit of throwing garbage on streets is the only solution to the menace,” said the official.

Adding that dog menace has been reduced in Srinagar as compared to the previous year. "The door to door collection of garbage is also frequently being done."