For residents living opposite Reshimbagh Garden, stepping out of their homes after dark is increasingly becoming a matter of risk. A pack of around 15 stray dogs has been roaming the area, and repeatedly chasing and attacking people. This has caused an alarm among citizens over safety of senior citizens, children, morning walkers, and two-wheeler riders. The concern comes amid prolonged stall on Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, which has been inactive since March 31 this year. While the programme remains caught up in administrative and bureaucratic complications, the absence of sustained civic intervention is being felt on the streets, and aggressive dog packs have become a recurring problem.

 

‘The Hitavada’ has also highlighted incidents in which stray dogs have caused injuries and damage to residents’ health and property in the recent past, but does not seem to deter the NMC administration from continuing to stall the ABC programme’s official approval. Recently, Dr Mrunmayee Baitule, a resident opposite Reshimbagh Garden, was returning home from work late at night, when she was suddenly chased by a pack of five to six stray dogs. The dogs barked aggressively and attempted to bite her as she rode her two-wheeler towards her house. Panicked, she called out loudly for help as she approached home. Her parents and family, who were waiting for her, heard her cries and came out, but the dogs continued chasing her. In an attempt to escape the pack, she accelerated her scooty and, in the panic, failed to notice that the road had ended. She crashed into a nearby wall and the two-wheeler fell on her. The accident left her with muscular injuries in both legs and injuries on the left side of her body.

 

Her two-wheeler was also damaged. This is not an isolated incident. Residents say that another surgeon from the same locality was also attacked while out on his morning walk. According to them, a few stray dogs suddenly leapt at him, causing him to fall and fracture his arm. His arm remained in a plaster cast for over a month. Residents claim to have attempted to get the dogs caught through NMC’s dog-catching teams. “Some people who regularly feed the dogs do not allow the NMC to take them away. They feed the dogs, but do not get them sterilised or vaccinated, or even take responsibility for the harm they are causing. Some have even tried to intimidate us when we attempt to contact the authorities,” complained Subhash Paandhare, a resident. Narendra Bawankar, Assistant Commissioner of NMC’s Hanuman Nagar Zone No 3, under which Reshimbagh falls, has assured residents that dog-catching vans would be sent to the area immediately. He also urged all citizens to approach the police if any person tries to intimidate them for attempting to contact the authorities.