Subheadline: Dog-bite cases were recorded across Soraba town and rural areas between January and August, while health officials said vaccines were available and no rabies case had been reported.
Soraba | September 6, 2026 — Soraba taluk in Karnataka recorded 1,522 dog-bite cases between January and August 2026, according to data from primary health centres and the government public hospital, as residents reported an increase in stray dogs around public facilities, roads and residential areas.
The cases were recorded among people who received anti-rabies vaccines after being bitten. Monthly figures released in the report were 253 cases in January, 204 in February, 176 in March, 202 in April, 167 in May, 167 in June, 191 in July and 162 in August.
Stray dogs have reportedly been seen in larger numbers around Soraba town and rural areas, including bus stands, schools, anganwadi centres, main roads and hospitals. Residents said groups of dogs were also found near hotels, meat shops and village outskirts, where they chased pedestrians and people travelling on two-wheelers.
Local residents told Prajavani that children had been bitten and that some motorcycle riders had fallen after dogs suddenly crossed or chased them. Rashid Khan, a resident, said municipal action limited to anti-rabies injections for dogs would not address incidents involving aggressive animals. Residents also alleged that dog sterilisation or other population-control measures had not been implemented despite the increase in bite cases.
Residents further alleged that some people brought puppies from rural areas and abandoned them in town, contributing to the increase in the local stray-dog population. They said complaints to municipal officials had not resulted in effective action and that responses had been limited to assurances.
Harsha Patil, the taluk health officer, said there was no shortage of anti-rabies vaccines at primary health centres. According to Patil, people reporting dog bites were being provided vaccines at the relevant health centres. He also said that no rabies case had been recorded in the taluk during the eight-month period.
The report also recorded 85 snake-bite cases in Soraba taluk between January and August. Health officials said people working in agricultural fields in rural areas were among those affected. Anti-snake-venom treatment was available at primary health centres, and no death from snake bite had been reported during the period, Patil said.
