Stray dog attacks near Killi junction in Kattakada left 10 people with bite injuries on Monday night, prompting treatment at hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram and a renewed request for police surveillance from the local panchayat.
The attacks took place around 10pm, beginning near Killi hospital, where a man identified as Sudheer was bitten. The dog then attacked several other people in the area, including Vamadevan, Shafeeq, Afzal and Shahid. Other victims were bitten while standing outside a mobile phone shop and a hotel, while an employee of a nearby workshop was also attacked.
All the victims suffered injuries to their legs. They were initially taken to Kattakada government hospital and later shifted to General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, for further treatment, according to the report by Times of India – Thiruvananthapuram.
Residents managed to drive the dog away by throwing stones. A subsequent search operation led by Kattakada panchayat president V J Sunitha, with assistance from dog catchers, could not locate the animal. Two pet dogs that were also bitten have been kept under observation at their respective homes.
The incident has increased concern among pedestrians, shopkeepers and people travelling through the junction at night. Residents said attacks by stray dogs and the presence of aggressive animals had become a growing problem in Kattakada and neighbouring areas in recent months.
Sunitha said the panchayat had observed stray dogs being brought from elsewhere and abandoned around Kattakada junction and nearby areas. The panchayat has written to the police seeking surveillance to prevent such practices and improve public safety, she said. The immediate next step identified in the report is continued efforts to locate the attacking dog and action on the panchayat’s request for police monitoring.
