Latest news with #KhadeeraBanu
News18
an hour ago
- Politics
- News18
Humane Policy Vs Harsh Reality: Stray Dog Issue In Focus After Karnataka Child's Death
The deaths of 4-year-old Khadeera Banu and two senior citizens who were also mauled by stray dogs, have intensified discussions on this issue. A tragic incident in Bengaluru on Tuesday led to the death of a four-year-old girl named Khadeera Banu, four months after she was viciously attacked by a stray dog in Davangere. Her demise, despite prolonged treatment for 'dumb rabies" at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, has once again highlighted the persistent issue of stray dogs and reignited the debate on controlling such dangerous attacks. The deaths of Khadeera Banu and two senior citizens who were also mauled by stray dogs, have intensified discussions on this issue. Recently, the Karnataka Lokayukta reprimanded the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for its lack of action and 'shocking civic apathy" towards fatalities caused by these stray dog attacks, as reported by News18. Officials and experts acknowledge that the problem goes beyond mere civic neglect. A senior animal husbandry official pointed out significant flaws in the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, stating, 'Implementation is both the solution and the challenge." The ABC programme, which has been in place for years, aims to sterilise stray dogs to control their population. However, stray dog attacks and related deaths continue unabated. 'The policy has failed on the ground. While sterilisation is being carried out, it is not reaching every dog. There are instances of sterilisation not being effective as well," the officer explained. The Central Government recently reiterated its commitment to a humane and scientific approach to handling stray dogs, involving sterilisation, vaccination, and community care. This announcement was met with outcry from animal lovers and various quarters, including Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi, and Varun Gandhi. Reacting to the Supreme Court's recent order on Delhi-NCR, Rahul Gandhi referred to blanket removals of strays as 'cruel, shortsighted, and a step back from decades of humane policy." 'These voiceless souls are not problems to be erased. Shelters, sterilisation, vaccination, and community care can keep streets safe — without cruelty," Rahul Gandhi stated, a sentiment echoed by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Varun Gandhi, and former Union minister Maneka Gandhi. This instance saw the Gandhis united despite their political differences. However, the ground reality in Karnataka reveals a stark gap between policy and practice. Establishing and maintaining shelters for stray dogs is a challenging task, and the idea of removing aggressive dogs seems practical only on paper, the senior official noted. Before Supreme Court interventions, the practice was to sterilise and release dogs back into their localities. Over time, this approach has proven ineffective. Urban local bodies receive funds for the ABC programme but often pass them on to NGOs without monitoring outcomes. Not all NGOs reach the last mile, and ABC has not been efficiently implemented, as intended. The official suggested a mission-mode programme, akin to election or vaccination drives, with penalties for failure and a body to constantly monitor progress. Without such measures, the programme will remain intent without impact. The Karnataka Lokayukta's intervention last week followed an independent probe that exposed BBMP's failure to establish observation homes for aggressive dogs. Lokayukta Justice BS Patil stated, 'The civic body has not treated this as a serious problem." Khadeera Banu's death, resulting from a stray dog mauling her face and body while playing inside her house in April, sent shock waves through the community. Despite multiple surgeries and advanced care in Bengaluru, she succumbed to rabies, underscoring the consequences of inadequate prevention. 'Deaths like these should not be happening. If proper sterilisation and vaccination had been done, and aggressive dogs segregated, this could have been avoided," reiterated another senior officer in the animal husbandry department. The issue has gained national attention after the Supreme Court ordered all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to be removed from residential areas and permanently detained in shelters. Tamil Nadu quickly announced its intention to implement the order. State minister KN Nehru praised the directive and promised action once the official order was received. However, activists criticised the move as a cover-up for local body failures. 'In the last 25 years, crores have been spent on animal birth control. Had it been implemented properly by the governments, the problem would never have escalated to this level," explained animal welfare groups. The Supreme Court has warned that any organisation obstructing the implementation of its order would face 'the strictest action." top videos View all In Karnataka, the challenge is compounded by conflicting political messages from the Centre. Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Supreme Court order as 'a step back" has deepened the divide between advocates of humane solutions and proponents of quick-fix removals. Ultimately, the debate in Karnataka circles back to one critical point: implementation. 'Policies exist. Money exists. Intent exists. But unless we execute, vaccinate, sterilise, and monitor in a mission mode, the problem will only grow," remarked an animal activist working on policy guidelines to address the stray dog menace. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18's digital platform. She has previously worked with More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : karnataka rabies stray dog menace stray dogs view comments Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: August 21, 2025, 11:23 IST News india Humane Policy Vs Harsh Reality: Stray Dog Issue In Focus After Karnataka Child's Death Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
The Print
2 days ago
- Health
- The Print
Four-year-old girl dies of rabies
Banu, a resident of Shastri Layout in Davanagere, was attacked by a dog on April 27 while playing outside her house. The victim, Khadeera Banu, passed away on Sunday after being treated for the last four months, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH), Bengaluru, director, Dr Sanjay K S, said. Davanagere (Karnataka), Aug 19 (PTI) A four-year-old girl who was undergoing treatment for dog bites has died of rabies, a senior official said on Tuesday. She was admitted to a local private hospital with multiple dog bites on her face and body. According to Dr Sanjay, she was referred to IGICH in May when her condition worsened. 'She was admitted in the ICU here and after tests, rabies was confirmed due to the presence of antibodies,' said the director. The girl was discharged for home care after about a month once her condition was stable, he added. She was brought in again in August and was unresponsive, requiring emergency intubation, he said. According to him, it was a case of dumb rabies, where the disease causes paralysis and not aggression. Responding to various news reports that the family had spent nearly Rs 8 lakh on treatment, the IGICH director said, in Bengaluru, the family was not charged. 'It is quite possible that they have spent a lot of money in the private hospital in Davanagere,' he said. The girl's father is a street vendor and her mother is a homemaker. PTI JR KH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Mint
2 days ago
- Health
- Mint
Stray Dog Menace: 4-year-old girl dies of rabies in Bengaluru, 2 Rajasthan boys injured in attacks in Udaipur and Alwar
A four-year-old girl who was mauled by a street dog earlier this year died of rabies while undergoing treatment in Bengaluru, a senior official said on Tuesday. The child was battling rabies for nearly four months and was being treated at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH), Bengaluru The victim, Khadeera Banu, passed away on Sunday, hospital director Dr. Sanjay KS said. The death comes amid a growing stray dog problem in Karnataka, even as the Supreme Court earlier this month ignited a national debate regarding its intervention with the issue in Delhi-NCR. A resident of Shastri Layout in Davanagere, four-year-old Khadeera was playing outside her house when a street dog attacked her, biting her face and body. She was rushed to a local hospital with multiple dog bites. 'She was admitted in the ICU here and after tests, rabies was confirmed due to the presence of antibodies,' Dr. Sanjay said, adding that she was referred to IGICH in May as her condition became worse. The girl was discharged for home care after about a month once her condition was stable, the doctor said. However, Khadeera's conditioned further worsened and she became unresponsive, following which she was rushed to the hospital again requiring emergency intubation, he said. According to him, it was a case of dumb rabies, where the disease causes paralysis and not aggression. Responding to various news reports that the family had spent nearly ₹ 8 lakh on treatment, the IGICH director said, in Bengaluru, the family was not charged. "It is quite possible that they have spent a lot of money in the private hospital in Davanagere," he said. The girl's father is a street vendor and her mother is a homemaker. In two other separate incidents, two minor boys were seriously injured in two separate incidents of stray dog attacks in Udaipur and Alwar districts of Rajasthan. According to police, a five-year-old boy was mauled by three street dogs while he was playing near his home on Sunday evening in Udaipur. 'The boy was playing outside his residence in Gautam Vihar colony when three stray dogs suddenly attacked him. He was injured and taken to a hospital,' police said. The stray dogs knocked the child to the ground and dragged him before biting, CCTV footage shows. The mother, hearing her child's screams, rushed out of the house and chased the digs away before more harm was done. A similar incident happened on Monday in Alwar where an eight-year-old boy was brutally attacked by stray dogs in Sankhla village. The boy sustained multiple deep wounds across his body, including his neck, face, back, hips, thighs, arms, legs and abdomen, the police said. According to locals, Yogesh was returning home after playing with friends when eight to ten stray dogs surrounded him, approximately 100 metres from his house. Villagers, alerted by the boy's screams, rushed to his rescue and managed to drive the dogs away using sticks. The child was immediately rushed to a hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for multiple deep wounds, some of which exposed muscle tissue.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Mauled by stray dogs, 4-year-old girl dies in Bengaluru after 4-month battle: Report
A four-year-old girl from Davanagere who had been battling for life for nearly four months after a brutal stray dog attack succumbed to rabies in a Bengaluru hospital on Sunday. According to the state surveillance unit's infectious disease report, Karnataka reported 2.8 lakh dog bite cases between January and August 2025 alone.(Pixabay/Representative) The death of Khadeera Banu has once again brought Karnataka's growing stray dog menace into sharp focus, even as the Supreme Court's recent intervention in Delhi-NCR has reignited national debate over how to address the crisis. According to a report by Times of India, Khadeera, a resident of Shastri Layout in Davanagere, was attacked on April 27 while playing outside her home. The dog bit her on the face and multiple parts of the body, leaving her critically injured. With her condition worsening, doctors in Davanagere referred her to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Bengaluru, where she was admitted the following day. However, her condition deteriorated in August, the report added. (Also Read: Stray dogs are not the problem, our lack of compassion is) Khadeera's parents, her father a street vendor and her mother a homemaker, claimed to have spent nearly ₹8 lakh on her treatment. But hospital authorities said actual treatment costs would have been much lower. According to the state surveillance unit's infectious disease report, Karnataka reported 2.8 lakh dog bite cases and 26 suspected rabies deaths between January and August 2025 alone, a staggering figure that continues to raise alarm among citizens and health experts alike. Supreme Court on stray dogs While Karnataka grapples with mounting dog bite incidents, a similar crisis in Delhi prompted the Supreme Court to intervene earlier this month. In a significant move on August 11, the apex court directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to remove all stray dogs from the streets within eight weeks and shift them to dedicated shelters. The court's order specified that dogs, once sterilised and vaccinated, could not be returned to their original locations, a notable shift from the current Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules which permit release. However, the directive sparked immediate backlash from animal welfare organisations and legal experts, who criticised the move as 'inhumane' and impractical due to the lack of adequate shelters and staff. Over the past week, protests have been held in Delhi, Mumbai, and several other cities, with activists urging the government to adopt scientific and humane methods like sterilisation and vaccination, rather than mass relocation. (Also Read: Six years on, Lucknow halves stray dog birth rate)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Karnataka stray dog menace: 4-year-old Davanagere girl mauled in April succumbs to rabies in Bengaluru; battled for 4 months with ‘dumb rabies'
A four-year-old girl from Davanagere, Khadeera Banu, tragically died from rabies in Bengaluru after being mauled by a stray dog four months prior. The attack occurred in April, leaving her with severe injuries. DAVANAGERE/BENGALURU: A four-year-old girl from Davanagere, who had been battling for life for the past four months after being mauled by a stray dog, succumbed to rabies at a hospital in Bengaluru on Sunday. The victim, Khadeera Banu of Shastri Layout in Davanagere, was attacked on April 27 while playing outside her house. The dog bit her on the face and other parts of the body, leaving her critically injured. With her condition worsening, doctors in Davanagere advised the family to shift her to Bengaluru for treatment. Khadeera's father is a street vendor and her mother a homemaker. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Khadeera was admitted to Bengaluru's Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) on April 28. Dr Keshav, who treated her at IGICH, said the child had already received treatment elsewhere and was brought with a history of rabies. Girl suffered from dumb rabies: Doc We conducted three confirmatory tests, including a CSF fluid test. All returned positive with rising titres, confirming rabies. At that time, the child was stable and discharged for home care," he said. "When the child returned in Aug, she was in a deeper encephalopathic state - unresponsive and requiring emergency intubation. This is what we call dumb rabies, where the disease causes paralysis rather than aggression. She showed no reflexes and we lost her Sunday noon," he added. While Khadeera's family claimed they had spent nearly Rs 8 lakh on her treatment, Dr Keshav said the total bill would not cross Rs 60,000-70,000. "Our charges are minimal. Tests done in the first week would not exceed Rs 5,000 a day, while ICU charges are capped at Rs 3,000-4,000 per day. Even if they had stayed for 100 days, the total bill would not cross Rs 60,000-70,000. The Rs 8 lakh cited may include expenses on travel, rent, and consultations elsewhere." Khadeera's death has once again turned the spotlight on the growing menace of stray dog attacks in Karnataka. Between Jan and Aug this year, the state reported 2.8 lakh dogbite cases and 26 suspected rabies deaths, according to the state surveillance unit's infectious disease report. 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.
