SRINAGAR, October 2024 – Elderly Woman Hurt in Stray Dog Attack in Srinagar’s Bemina Area,A severe public safety crisis has erupted in the Gousia Colony of Bemina, Srinagar, where residents report that over one hundred stray dogs have overrun four central lanes, creating an environment of fear and constant danger.
The situation reached a critical point on Monday when an elderly woman was allegedly chased and bitten by a pack of dogs, igniting widespread anger and frustration among the local population and highlighting what they call a catastrophic administrative failure.
Residents Describe a Life of Fear
For months, the stray dog population in the colony has grown unchecked, transforming daily life into a nightmare. Local residents state that despite numerous pleas for help, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has yet to take decisive action to control the animals.
“My elderly mother was bitten after being chased by a pack of strays. It is shameful and terrifying that the SMC has ignored such a dangerous situation unfolding in a residential area,” a distressed family member told Times of Kashmir.
Children and Senior Citizens Most at Risk
The community emphasizes that the most vulnerable—children and the elderly—are now effectively trapped in their homes.
“Venturing out during morning and evening hours has become a high-risk activity. Our school-going children are terrified to walk to school or play outside. We are not living; we are surviving in a state of constant fear,” another local resident explained.
Appeal for Urgent Sterilization and Relocation
Faced with the administration’s silence, the residents of Gousia Colony are now issuing a desperate public appeal. They are urging the SMC to immediately launch a large-scale sterilization and relocation drive and to deploy dog-catching teams to the area without any further delay to prevent a more serious tragedy.
“We pay our taxes and deserve to live in safety. How many more people, especially children, have to be attacked before the authorities wake up and do their job?” a community representative questioned.
SMC Yet to Respond
Efforts by Times of Kashmir to reach the SMC Commissioner for an official comment on the situation did not yield a response.
This incident in Bemina is part of a growing pattern of public complaints across Srinagar regarding the escalating stray dog population and the perceived lack of effective municipal action.
(This is a developing story. Times of Kashmir will provide updates as more information becomes available.)
Tags: Srinagar News, Bemina News, Stray Dog Menace, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Public Safety, Srinagar Local News, Kashmir News Today, SMC, Animal Control