6-year-old girl mauled by stray dogs

Berhampur: A six-year-old girl was injured after being attacked by stray dogs outside her school at Mahanala village under Patapur police limits in Ganjam district on Tuesday, renewing concerns over the growing dog menace in the area.The Class II student was leaving the school premises after lunch when two stray dogs pounced on her. Hearing her screams, teachers rushed to her rescue and drove the animals away. The girl sustained multiple bite injuries on her left hand.Her parents rushed her to the community health centre (CHC) at Adapada, where she was treated. “She suffered injuries at four places on her left hand. Anti-rabies treatment has been administered and her condition is stable.

She will return for follow-up doses,” said Dr Bahana Das, medical officer at the CHC.The incident comes less than two months after a six-year-old boy from the same village was critically injured in a stray dog attack on May 22. The boy suffered serious injuries to his face and skull and was treated at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur.The latest attack has triggered fresh concern among residents, who alleged that the increasing number of stray dogs has made it unsafe for children and women to venture out alone.

Villagers demanded immediate intervention by district authorities to curb the stray dog population and prevent further attacks.Animal activist Lalatendu Choudhury said the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, currently being implemented in the Berhampur Municipal Corporation area, should be extended to rural pockets as well to effectively address the growing stray dog menace.