Bhopal: An Estimated 1.5 Lakh Stray Dogs Roam, Creating Fear & Anxiety; 10,769 Bite Cases From Jan To June

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Stray dog attacks continue to plague Bhopal, which has reported 10,769 dog bite cases from January to June 2025, averaging 1,795 incidents per month. The rising trend has alarmed citizens and officials alike.

Responding to a surge in dog bites and rabies cases, the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday issued strong directions to control the menace in Delhi-NCR, ordering immediate capture, sterilisation and permanent relocation of stray dogs to shelters. It also warned of legal action against any obstruction to this drive.

In Bhopal, an estimated 1.5 lakh stray dogs roam the city, according to a National Health Mission (NHM) survey under its anti-rabies campaign. In 2024, 19,285 dog bite cases were recorded.

Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) runs three Animal Birth Control (ABC) Centres, sterilising around 22,000 dogs every year. But with 85 wards, officials admit this is inadequate. As per the ward-wise requirement, one sterilisation centre is needed per 10 wards, meaning at least nine centres should be operational.

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Legal U-turn?

Swati Gaurav, member of People for Animals (PFA), said, “Earlier, court was against relocation of stray dogs as they become aggressive. PFA will challenge it in SC as it is contradictory.”

She said that in Bhopal, the former Mayor had proposed shelter homes for strays, but High Court had struck it down.

Civic body echoes concern

Dr Brijesh Gupta from the veterinary department stated, “SC order is contradictory as it was its own previous order that stray dogs should not be relocated from any locality as they become more aggressive. Civic body works on same line. Even after sterilisation in ABC centres, they are released in same localities.”

When bites turn deadly

• In January 2024, a seven-month-old boy was killed after being mauled by two to three stray dogs in Ayodhya Nagar.

• On January 15, 2024, a four-year-old boy died in Baghsewania, one of four people attacked by strays that day.

• In January 2022, a four-year-old girl was severely injured by a pack of stray dogs in Baghsewania.