From streets to shelters: SC acts on Delhi-NCR stray dogs, stats explain why
According to data, Maharashtra reported the highest number of dog bites — 56,538 cases — in just the first month of 2025. Gujarat came in second place with 53,942 cases. Tamil Nadu reported 48,931 cases, Karnataka nearly 39,500, and Bihar recorded over 34,000. The national capital saw 3,196 cases in January.
Deaths due to rabies from dog bites are also on the rise. In 2022, there were 21 deaths. This increased to 50 in 2023, and by 2024, it reached 54 deaths. This year, in January, one death was reported. In July, a state-level Kabaddi player, Brijesh Solanki, from Uttar Pradesh, reportedly died of rabies, weeks after he was bitten by a stray pup he rescued from a drain.GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON PREVENTIONSince 2020–21, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, under the National Health Mission's Free Drug Initiative, has been funding states and Union Territories to procure Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) for rabies prevention.These drugs are available free of cost in government hospitals, medical colleges, and anti-rabies clinics. One vial of ARV costs around Rs 250, while RIG, depending on type, costs about Rs 350. Government support has been significant: Rs 68.86 crore in FY21, Rs 62.33 crore in FY22, Rs 98.75 crore in FY23, and Rs 99.77 crore in FY24.Over the last five years, the number of anti-rabies vaccine doses approved under the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases programme has also increased. In 2020–21, 25.56 lakh doses were approved. This increased to 41.76 lakh doses in 2021–22. In 2022–23, the number dropped to 18.44 lakh doses, the lowest in the five years. But it rose again in 2023–24, when 64.55 lakh doses were sanctioned. And 2024–25 recorded the highest approval so far, at 80.19 lakh doses allocated. In total, 230.5 lakh doses have been approved in the past five years.- Ends
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Banaras Hindu University launches anti-ragging awareness campaign with zero tolerance message
VARANASI: The Anti-Ragging Squad of Banaras Hindu University and the Anti-Ragging Squad of the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMSBHU) jointly launched a special awareness campaign on the occasion of National Anti-Ragging Day on Tuesday. The campaign theme, 'Zero Tolerance to Ragging – Building a Safer Campus Together,' underscores the university's firm commitment to eradicating ragging and fostering a culture of safety, respect, and harmony among students. The programme began with a welcome session by Prof. Lalit Mohan Aggarwal, Member of the Anti-Ragging Squad, BHU. He emphasised that ragging has no place in a healthy academic environment and urged students to uphold values of mutual respect and cooperation. Prof. S.N. Sankhwar, Director, IMSBHU, reiterated that ragging not only reflects indiscipline but also severely hampers students' mental and academic growth. He stressed the administration's zero-tolerance policy towards ragging and assured strict action against any violations. Dr. Sanjay Gupta , Dean, Faculty of Modern Medicine, encouraged students to remain vigilant and report incidents without fear. Dr. Sunil Rao , Chairman, Anti-Ragging Squad, IMSBHU, explained anti-ragging laws, university guidelines, and helpline numbers, assuring prompt and fair action on complaints. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Birla Evara 3 and 4 BHK from ₹ 1.75 Crore* Birla Estates Learn More Undo Dr. Amrita Ghosh Kar, Professor-In-Charge, College of Nursing, and Prof. Gopal Nath, Dean, Research, addressed the gathering on collective responsibility in maintaining a ragging-free campus. Dr. Gopal Nath also conveyed a strong zero-tolerance message against ragging through a special video presentation. This initiative, promoting a zero-tolerance message against ragging through a video by Dr. Gopal Nath, was undertaken by Prof. Anupam Nema, Dean of Students, BHU. The campaign featured Slogan Writing and Essay Writing competitions on anti-ragging themes, with enthusiastic student participation from various faculties. The stage proceedings were conducted by Dr. Jyoti Srivastava, College of Nursing. An anti-ragging information brochure was also distributed to spread awareness about the definition, legal consequences, and reporting process. As part of Anti-Ragging Week (August 12–18), IMSBHU will be organising several activities such as slogan writing, essay writing, poster making, photography, and logo design, along with a rally, nukkad natak, and a debate on anti-ragging themes. The week aims to promote safety, respect, and harmony on campus. Meanwhile, in observance of Anti-Ragging Day, the Well-Being Services Cell at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) also organised a workshop. The initiative aimed to eliminate ragging, foster mutual respect and empathy, ensure student safety, and strengthen the university's counselling and support services. The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 160 students representing various faculties and affiliated colleges of BHU. By bringing together students, faculty members, and subject experts, the event reaffirmed the university's commitment to cultivating a safe, inclusive, and emotionally supportive campus environment. Anoop Kumar of the Faculty of Law led an informative session on anti-ragging legislation, emphasising BHU's zero-tolerance policy and the legal safeguards available to students. He also highlighted the importance of nurturing respectful and collaborative relationships between senior and junior students and introduced the range of well-being services accessible on campus. Nityanand Tiwari, Student Counsellor and Workshop Coordinator, elaborated on the theme and objectives of the event. He emphasised the need for collective responsibility in building a campus culture rooted in empathy, safety, and psychological well-being. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
Delhi dog removal may reverse rabies gains, create chaos: Edinburgh professor
India's hard-earned progress in rabies prevention could be 'substantially reversed' if the Supreme Court's recent order on removing street dogs is implemented, warns Prof. Krithika Srinivasan, Principal Investigator of the ROH-Indies research project at the University of an exclusive conversation, Prof. Srinivasan, whose work combines human geography, behavioural ecology, and public health, made it clear that the proposed measures risk derailing two decades of steady has made remarkable gains, reported human rabies deaths have dropped from 274 in 2005 to just 34 in 2022. But these health gains are fragile. Mass removal of dogs breaks up vaccinated, stable populations and triggers movement, increasing bite risks and rabies exposure,' she VACUUM EFFECT: A PROBLEM THAT BITES BACK The 'vacuum effect', a term many in the public may not have heard before, is central to her warning.'When community dogs are removed, the empty space is quickly filled by new, often unvaccinated dogs from surrounding areas,' Prof. Srinivasan explained. 'This disrupts herd immunity and creates instability.'The phenomenon is not unique to India. In the UK, after street dogs were eliminated, foxes and gulls filled the gap, both now considered urban nuisances and, in some cases, safety threats. In North America, coyotes, raccoons, skunks and even hybrid coywolves have taken over the ecological DOGS ARE NOT THE WHOLE PROBLEMEven countries without free-living dogs continue to struggle with bites and fatalities.'In England and Wales, hospital admissions for dog bites rose 88% between 2007 and 2021-22, and deaths linked to dogs have surged by 850% since 1983. Most of these incidents involve owned dogs, not strays,' Prof. Srinivasan research shows India's street dog bite rates are actually lower than in parts of the UK, a surprising finding that challenges the assumption that eliminating street dogs will automatically improve public CASE FOR ABC AND MASS VACCINATIONIndia's existing policy, the Animal Birth Control-Anti Rabies Vaccination (ABC-ARV) programme, is both cost-effective and globally endorsed by the WHO.'When done properly, ABC-ARV stabilises dog populations, reduces rabies, and lowers injury risks. Goa's rabies control programme recorded zero human rabies deaths for five consecutive years after its intensive vaccination and sterilisation drive,' she she emphasises that the current scale is inadequate. 'We need far more investment in universal, free post-exposure prophylaxis, mass vaccination, and public education on safe human-dog interactions,' she OPINION ISN'T AS POLARISED AS HEADLINES SUGGESTSContrary to the perception that the public overwhelmingly wants dogs removed, Prof. Srinivasan's surveys across Chennai, Jaipur, and Malappuram reveal a majority support vaccination and sterilisation over than 70% opposed killing all street dogs, even amongst those who had been bitten. The picture is far more moderate than extreme social media narratives suggest,' she THE COURT'S CONCERN IS VALID, BUT THE FIX COULD BACKFIREWhile Prof. Srinivasan acknowledges the Court's intent to safeguard public health, she warns that high-visibility removals can create a 'false sense of having taken action' while diverting resources from measures that actually work.'If the goal is to reduce rabies and bites, the science is clear, removal is not the way,' she concluded. 'Cities thrive when public health measures are rooted in science, implemented consistently, and supported by communities.'- EndsMust Watch
Economic Times
a day ago
- Economic Times
37,00,000 a year, 10,000 per day: The scaring figures of doge bite in India
Synopsis India's dog bite crisis is spiralling into a serious public health challenge, with numbers that experts describe as deeply alarming. In 2024 alone, the country recorded 37.17 lakh dog bite cases — averaging more than 10,000 incidents every single day. These figures reveal a widening gap between the Centre's goal of eliminating rabies by 2030 and the realities on the ground. PTI A dog barks at children playing in the rain on the Kartavya Path, in New Delhi. India's dog bite crisis is escalating at a pace that public health experts find deeply alarming. In 2024 alone, the country recorded 37.17 lakh cases, an average of over 10,000 dog bites every single day. This surge points to a growing gap between disease prevention goals and on-ground one looks at official rabies death figures, the contrast is startling. Government data for 2022 recorded just 21 rabies deaths. The WHO, using Indian government and other domestic sources, reported 305 deaths for the same year, as per The Times of India. Yet, WHO's modelling estimates 18,000–20,000 deaths annually in India -- more than 36% of global rabies fatalities. Most of these victims are children under 15, a group especially vulnerable to stray dog attacks. As per ToI analysis, dog bite cases dipped during the Covid years -- from 75.7 lakh in 2018 to just 17 lakh in 2021 -- but have surged again since, touching 37.2 lakh in 2024. Maharashtra leads the tally with 13.5 lakh cases between 2022 and 2024, followed by Tamil Nadu (12.9 lakh) and Gujarat (8.4 lakh).As per the latest available census data from 2019, Uttar Pradesh had the highest stray dog population in India at 20.6 lakh, followed by Odisha with 17.3 lakh. Maharashtra and Rajasthan each reported 12.8 lakh strays, while Karnataka had 11.4 lakh. A total of 26,334 dog bite cases have been reported in Delhi so far this year, official data accessed by PTI shown. Of these, 9,920 cases were recorded at Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) hospitals, while 15,010 cases were reported at its anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) data indicates that 68,090 dog bite cases were recorded in the city in 2024. As of July 31 this year, Delhi has reported 49 cases of rabies, according to the data. Between January 25 and June 25, more than 65,000 stray dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated. During the same January–June period, the capital saw 35,198 animal bite incidents in civic body has earlier announced plans to sterilise and vaccinate 97,994 dogs between April 2024 and December 2025. In comparison, 79,959 dogs were sterilised in 2023–24 and 59,076 in the preceding has emerged as one of the most worrying hotspots, logging 3.6 lakh dog bites and 42 rabies deaths in 2024 alone. In just the past six months, the state recorded 2.3 lakh incidents and 19 deaths. Kerala too has seen a sharp spike in to ToI , Gurgaon has an estimated 50,000 stray dogs but only two operational shelters, each with a capacity of 50 animals, and two more under construction. The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, which require sterilised dogs to be returned to their original locations, have meant that large-scale shelter infrastructure was never developed. In Ghaziabad, the last census counted 48,000 stray dogs. Noida's situation is more severe -- with no official census, estimates put the stray population as high as 1.5 lakh, but the city has only four private shelters. In the past seven months alone, Noida has reported 73,754 street dog bite is 100% preventable if victims receive prompt and complete post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Yet, India's combination of a vast stray population, patchy vaccination coverage, and poor public awareness continues to keep death rates Centre has pledged to eliminate rabies by 2030, aligning with global health goals. But with millions of dog bites annually and a fatality burden vastly underreported, experts warn that bridging the gap between policy and practice will require sustained vaccination campaigns, strict stray control measures, and public education drives. With inputs from ToI
