PCMC struggles as dog bites surge

Pimpri-Chinchwad records more than 20,600 dog bite cases this year as civic sterilisation efforts lag behind rising stray population

- Varad Bhatkhande

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is facing mounting criticism as dog bite cases continue to rise, with officials stating on Saturday that 20,664 incidents have been recorded this year.

Despite the civic body's claim that it is conducting regular sterilisation surgeries to curb the stray dog population, the city, which has an estimated one lakh stray dogs, has seen only 844 sterilisations until October this year and 43,680 in the past five years.

The issue mirrors a nationwide debate, with rising dog bite cases and a growing stray population prompting polarised reactions. While many strongly support stray dogs, others oppose their presence in densely populated areas.

The most recent development came with the Supreme Court's order on Nov 7, directing the immediate removal of stray dogs from schools, hospitals, railway stations and other public institutions. The order mandates relocating them to designated shelters for sterilisation and vaccination and prohibits their release back into the same areas.