Stray dog menace spirals in Sgr as sterilisation remains on halt

Srinagar, July 2: The stray dog population in Srinagar is growing at an alarming rate, as not a single sterilisation has been carried out in the city in 2025 so far, compounding the daily anxiety and safety concerns of residents. The halt in sterilisation under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme has left the city vulnerable to a full-blown crisis.From residential neighborhoods like Fateh Kadal, Habba Kadal, Bemina and Qamarwari to commercial centres such as Lal Chowk, Polo View and Ghanta Ghar, stray dog sightings are now a routine occurrence. With no control measures in place this year, packs of aggressive dogs have been seen chasing pedestrians, creating panic during morning and evening hours.“The number of stray dogs has increased drastically,” said Fahad Wani, a resident of Qamarwari. “They growl and bark at people. It’s becoming unsafe for everyone — children, women, and the elderly.”Hospitals, too, are not spared. Outside SMHS, Lal Ded, SKIMS, and Chest Disease Hospital, dogs rummage through garbage, often wandering near patients and attendants.  “At Lal Ded Hospital, dogs roam freely near the maternity ward. It’s horrifying to think of the risk they pose to newborns and mothers,” said Shabnam Bhat, a visitor.Imtiyaz Mir, an attendant at SMHS, added, “This isn’t just about being bitten. Dogs near waste bins and food stalls pose a serious hygiene hazard. We are in a hospital, not a dump yard.”In Bemina, locals say dog packs scavenge near open garbage points and residential streets, deterring people from stepping out, especially early in the morning.  According to official data, Srinagar saw 6,702 sterilisations and 6,848 vaccinations of stray dogs in 2024. However, no sterilisation has been conducted so far in 2025 — a vacuum residents say is now visible on every street.An official from Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), speaking on condition of anonymity, said the sterilisation pause is due to the expiry of the previous agency’s contract. “We have floated new tenders, but the process is yet to be finalised. Until then, sterilisations are on hold,” the official stated.Winter months usually see a slowdown in sterilisations due to infection risks post-surgery. But even as temperatures warmed and spring arrived, the process never resumed, intensifying public frustration.  Shopkeepers in Lal Chowk echo the worry. “Every day we see dogs loitering outside our shops. Customers are scared to even walk around,” said Mujtaba Qadri, who runs a garment store. The lack of timely intervention, residents warn, could soon lead to a surge in dog bite cases, rabies threats, and public health hazards, especially around garbage dump sites where dogs feed unchecked.