Rising stray dog numbers spark public safety concerns across Srinagar

• By RK News
• Comments 0
• 09 Oct 2025

M Haziq Pandit

Srinagar, Oct 08: Stray dogs continue to roam unchecked across different areas of Srinagar wit locals raising concerns about their safety and well-being.

With their numbers increasing sharply, these dogs have become a common sight in both residential and commercial areas, causing unease and posing serious safety risks.

Residents from both uptown and downtown areas such as Bemina, Batamaloo, Qamarwari, Lal Chowk, Rajbagh, Peerbagh, Karan Nagar, Khanyar, Fateh Kadal, Habba Kadal, Nawa Kadal, and Ali Kadal have expressed concern over the growing presence of stray dogs in their neighborhoods.

They said that these dogs now move in packs, often displaying aggressive behavior, making it increasingly unsafe for pedestrians, children, and the elderly to walk around the streets.

“The number of stray dogs has increased drastically in recent months,” said Zain Qadri, a resident of Qamarwari. “They have become more aggressive and unpredictable, growling and barking at anyone passing by. It’s becoming unsafe for everyone.”

In Bemina, locals say the problem is growing worse near residential lanes and garbage collection points, where stray dogs often scavenge through trash.

“Stray dogs have made it impossible for us to walk freely, especially during early morning hours when they gather around garbage piles,” said Aamir Bhat, a local resident. “We’ve raised this issue many times, but nothing has happened.”

Shopkeepers in Lal Chowk share similar concerns. “Every day, we see dozens of stray dogs outside our shops. Customers are scared to walk around,” said Danish Zargar, who runs a garment store. “It affects business and gives a negative image of the city.”

The issue is not limited to residential and commercial areas. Stray dogs have also been spotted near major hospitals such as SMHS, Lal Ded, SKIMS, Chest Disease Hospital, and Bone & Joint Hospital, causing significant inconvenience to patients and attendants.

The stray dogs not only create a nuisance but also pose a threat to public health and safety.  The surge in stray dog population has also led to a rise in dog bite incidents across the city. Notably, multiple cases over the past few months have brought the issue into sharp focus.

On August 2, a middle-aged man was critically injured after his motorcycle skidded off the road while being chased by a pack of stray dogs in Bemina.

On August 13, a youth was critically injured in Nowpora Safakadal after being mauled by a pack. On Sept 6, panic gripped Rainawari area of Downtown after several people were attacked and injured by stray dogs. Most recently, on October 6, an elderly woman was chased and bitten by a pack of dogs near Gousia Colony in Bemina.

In fact, data shows that Kashmir valley is grappling with an unprecedented surge in animal bite cases, with the region reporting the highest annual figures to date between June 2024 and May 2025.

According to data available at Anti-Rabies Clinic (ARC) at SMHS Hospital, a staggering 12,833 animal bite incidents were recorded during this period, with 6,258 cases linked to dog bites, while the remaining were caused by other animals. The ARC at SMHS alone reported an average of more than 17 dog bite cases every day, marking the highest figures ever recorded in the valley.

The monthly breakdown of dog bite cases between June 2024 and May 2025 reveals a troubling trend. June recorded 530 cases, July 598, August 521, September 515, October 540, November 423, December 439, January 480, February 463, March 524, April 625, and May 601. These numbers show a significant upward trend, with the annual total surpassing figures from previous years.

For comparison, annual dog bite cases over the past decade stood at 7,061 in 2015–16, 5,832 in 2016–17, 6,802 in 2017–18, 6,397 in 2018–19, 6,139 in 2019–20, 4,808 in 2020–21, 5,469 in 2021–22, 6,875 in 2022–23, 8,800 in 2023–24, and 6,258 in 2024–25.

Over the last ten years, the total number of dog bites in the Kashmir valley has approached 70,000, underscoring the growing public health crisis.

While the authorities have previously implemented sterilization drives under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program to control the stray dog population and reduce dog bites, many residents feel these measures have been ineffective in addressing the scale of the issue.

However, a senior official of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), requesting anonymity, acknowledged the issue but assured that efforts are underway to address the situation.

“We’ve already taken significant steps, including regular vaccinations for stray dogs. However, this is an ongoing process, and it will take time before we see noticeable changes on the ground. For the first time this year, we’ve also digitized the entire sterilization process, allowing for real-time tracking of each operation,” the official said.

“Additionally, our third sterilization center in Chatterhama is nearing completion and will soon be operational. Equipped with all-weather facilities and enhanced capacity, it will allow us to run the program year-round, even during harsh winter conditions,” the official said.

According to official data, between June 2023 and October 2024, more than 14,000 stray dogs were sterilized and vaccinated under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program.

In 2024 alone, 6,702 dogs were sterilized, and 6,848 received rabies vaccinations. So far in 2025, over 900 dogs have been sterilized, with the department aiming to sterilize, vaccinate, and deworm 21,000 dogs over the next 16 months across all 35 municipal wards of Srinagar.

“Our goal is to cover all 35 municipal wards of Srinagar, and the Chatterhama center will play a crucial role in reaching this target,” the official added.

He said that sterilization remains the most effective long-term solution to controlling the stray dog population, particularly as the Animal Birth Control Rule 2023 prohibits relocation or euthanization of stray dogs. “By preventing further breeding, we aim to gradually reduce both the stray dog population and incidents of dog bites. However, this process will take time,” he said.