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Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
PMC launches campaign to control stray dog population amid rising bite cases
1 2 Prayagraj: The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a largescale campaign to sterilise the city's over 1.13 lakh stray canine population amid increasing dog bite cases. The action follows a National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) data that showed a staggering 1,98,964 people were bitten by dogs in the city over the last two years. Of these, 58,948 were reported in 2023 and a whopping 1,40,016 in 2024, showing a concerning surge. In 2023, dog scratches accounted for 31,237 cases, 24,152 victims suffered bleeding injuries and 3,559 were severely wounded. In 2024, the numbers grew more alarming with 33,258 people getting scratched, 97,893 sustaining bleeding injuries and 8,865 seriously injured. February 2024 alone recorded 2,800 serious dog bite injuries, the highest in any month. The rising number of incidents has highlighted the challenge of managing stray dog populations. To handle the situation, the PMC is setting up an animal birth control (ABC) centre in Shams Nagar Kareli (Haddigodam) where sterilisation and vaccination procedures would begin this month. According to Rohit Kumar, the project manager from C&DS, the centre was built at a cost of Rs1.85 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn 57+ Languages Easily with AI [Join] Talkpal AI Sign Up Undo It includes an operation theatre, kennel space, pantry, community kitchen, salon, dormitory and park. The facility can sterilise up to 32 dogs per day. In addition, a largescale vaccination and sterilisation campaign has been launched, with the tendering process already underway. Dr Vijay Amritraj, veterinary and welfare officer of PMC, said the centre has the capacity to house 200 to 250 dogs at a time. "Currently, Prayagraj has an estimated 1.13 lakh stray dogs, out of which only 4,540 have undergone vaccination and sterilisation. The city has also completed construction of two dog shelter homes, which are set to be operated by specialised agencies chosen through a tender process," said the official. Authorities have assured that laws that prevent cruelty towards animals will be strictly followed in these facilities, he added. Sources at PMC said catching stray dogs is no easy task, with municipal teams often facing resistance from locals and animal welfare groups. These confrontations have made it difficult for municipal corporation to efficiently carry out sterilisation and relocation drives. But now efforts are in full swing to ensure the safety of the city residents while maintaining ethical treatment of animals. The municipal corporation's plan aims to strike a balance between public safety and animal welfare by combining sterilisation, vaccination and controlled sheltering. 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
06-08-2025
- Health
- India Today
India's alarming animal bite cases highlight urgent need for rabies control
India has seen a worrying surge in animal bite cases, especially those caused by stray and authorities are raising alarms about the link between these bites and rabies, a deadly disease that can almost always be prevented with timely Rise in Animal Bite CasesIn 2024 alone, India recorded over 22 lakh (2.2 million) dog bite cases and more than 5 lakh cases involving other animals like monkeys. Reports indicate that nearly 20% of bite victims are children under the age of 15, making this a serious public health concern. The trend is especially visible in urban areas, but rural regions are also heavily Some cities and states have seen dramatic jumps in reported bites. For example, Noida witnessed a 31% increase in cases in a single year, and Ludhiana's numbers have more than doubled since 2021. Across the nation, cases have jumped by nearly 70% from 2022 to 2024. With millions of reported bites each year and the numbers still climbing, the risk of rabies exposure has sharply Is This Happening?The main culprits behind human rabies are stray dogs, which account for about 96% of cases in India. Several challenges make the problem worse:Unchecked stray animal population, especially dogsInadequate animal birth control and vaccination programsLack of public awareness of how to prevent bites and seek help after exposurePoor access in some areas to anti-rabies clinics and life-saving treatmentsThe Danger of RabiesRabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms set in, but it is entirely preventable if treated immediately after an animal bite. On average, dozens of people die from rabies every year in India, with children and the elderly at higher risk. The real number could be higher, as not all cases get Can Be Done?Experts and health authorities are calling for urgent, coordinated measures:Mass dog vaccination: This is the most effective way to control rabies at its source. States like Goa have shown that targeting dog vaccination and population management can lead to a sharp drop in human rabies animal population control: Animal Birth Control (ABC) programs are being expanded and are essential for long-term public awareness: People need to know that washing animal bite wounds with soap and seeking medical help immediately can save and accessible anti-rabies treatment: More anti-rabies clinics are being set up, and vaccination and immune globulin are provided free through national programs like the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP).Rapid response for bite cases: Prompt administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and, in some cases, rabies InitiativesIndia has launched the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Dog-Mediated Rabies (NAPRE) with a target to be rabies-free by 2030. The government is also pushing for strict enforcement of rules on animal welfare and dog population Should You Do If Bitten?Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and a healthcare facility for immediate anti-rabies the full vaccination schedule as advised by the incident to the authorities if it involves a stray bites in India have become a public health crisis, with millions at risk of a deadly but preventable disease. Stronger rabies prevention, more effective animal control, and public education are urgently needed to save lives and work towards a rabies-free future(Dr. Sadanand D Raut is a consultant physician and renowned animal bite (snakebite) expert based at Vighnahar Nursing Home, Narayangaon, Pune, celebrated for his pioneering work in snakebite treatment and Mission Zero Snakebite Deaths. He and his team have saved thousands of lives in rural Maharashtra, earning him recognition on the World Health Organization's roster of experts for snakebite envenoming.- Ends
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Central Pollution Control Board's report identified five stretches on water bodies in Punjab as polluted, Rajya Sabha told
Bathinda: A Central Pollution Control Board's 2022 report has identified five stretches on water bodies in Punjab as polluted, minister of state for Jal Shakti Bhushan Chaudhary informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The stretches are located on the Ghaggar, Satluj, Sirsa (a tributary of Satluj), Swan (a tributary of Satluj), and Kali Bein (a tributary of Beas). In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the minister stated that it is the primary responsibility of states, UTs, and local bodies to ensure the treatment of sewage and industrial effluents before discharging them into water bodies or land to prevent and control pollution. For the conservation of rivers and tributaries, the jal shakti ministry is supplementing the efforts of the states and UTs with the implementation of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) on a cost-sharing basis, the minister said. Under the NRCP, pollution abatement schemes for the conservation of the Ghaggar were sanctioned at Rs 57.11 crore, and a sewage treatment capacity of 15 million litres per day (MLD) created. The minister said, according to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board, 28 STPs with a total capacity of 291.7 MLD have been set up in the Ghaggar river catchment area, and 15 STPs with a capacity of 97 MLD are in different stages of implementation. For the conservation of the Sutlej and Beas under the NRCP, pollution abatement works were sanctioned at Rs 717.32 crores, and a sewage treatment capacity of 648 MLD was created. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To address pollution concerns of the Satluj due to the discharge of Buddha Nallah, which carries municipal, industrial, dairy, and other wastes from Ludhiana town, the Punjab govt has undertaken the Buddha Nallah rejuvenation project. The project included setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) of 225 million litres per day (MLD) at Jamalpur and 60 MLD at Balloke, rehabilitation of four STPs - 111 MLD and 50 MLD at Bhattian and 152 MLD and 105 MLD at Balloke, and two effluent treatment plants of capacity 3.75 MLD and 2.25 MLD for the treatment of wastewater from Haibowal and Tajpur Road dairy complexes. Balbir Singh Seechewal, a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, asked about the measures being implemented to address the pollution levels in the Satluj, Beas, Ravi, and other rivers in Punjab. He inquired whether there are any targeted projects or interventions in place to restore and rejuvenate these rivers, particularly concerning wastewater discharge and industrial effluents, and the plan of the ministry to involve local communities, industries, and stakeholders in sustainable river management and conservation efforts. MSID:: 122975010 413 |
